Following the Industrial Revolution, the tradition of Wakes Week holidays emerged in northern towns, allowing cotton mills and manufacturing factories to shut down for maintenance.

From June to September, different Lancashire towns would take turns going on holiday each week, although the workers did not receive any pay during these breaks.

While an agreement for 12 days annual holiday was finally reached in 1907, which increased to 15 days in 1915, it wasn’t until the 1940s and 50s that paid holidays became a reality.

Indeed, back in early Victorian times mill workers were lucky to have Sunday off – to attend church – and holidays were unheard of.

There was a long-held belief among the mill workers of East Lancashire that bathing during the summer was ‘physic in the sea’ and the expansion of the railway network led Blackpool to become a resort catering mainly for the Lancashire working classes.

The resort enjoyed a peak year in 1860 as thousands of holidaymakers flocked there, and in the last quarter of the 19th century trips increased from day trips to full weeks away.

To help pay for their holidays, workers would make regular payments into Wakes Saving or Going-Off clubs during the year.