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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Benjamin Roberts-Haslam

Secrets people from Southport know are true

Southport is a glorious seaside town that is a hub for tourists and daytrippers from across the North West.

The historic town is known for its days out and super long pier, but there are things that others may not know about the town but will ring true to those from Southport.

Sandgrounders don't necessarily see eye-to-eye on all things, mainly whether the town should be in Merseyside or Lancashire.

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But there are things that are undeniably true in the eyes of people in Southport.

The boulevards of Paris are based on the boulevards of Southport

This is something that is controversial, with no physical proof to show it is in fact true.

Despite that, people from the town will testify that this is common knowledge and definitely true.

The tale comes from when Napoleon's nephew, Charles-Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, visited the now Merseyside town from London. At the time the town was a luxury bathing resort reserved for those of the highest etiquette.

The prince is said to have fallen head over heels for the grand Lord Street, in the centre of the town. The street itself is believed to have been one of the first boulevards in the world.

Lord Street on a warm sunny day (Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)

The street was lined with shops and developments, going against the mills and factories that typically filled Northern English land.

Once he was crowned Emperor Napoleon III around a decade later, he is rumoured to have ordered his architect, Georges-Eugène Haussmann (Baron Haussmann), to replicate the luxurious and spacious seaside boulevard in the industrial Parisian streets.

Southport is a better seaside town than Blackpool

One rivalry that seems to go back to the dark ages is Southport v Blackpool.

People from Southport insist that Blackpool is just a noisy neighbour and that the Merseyside town holds more class and superiority over the fellow seaside town.

Sandgrounders will undoubtedly be made up when it sees a new rollercoaster at Pleasureland, rivalling Blackpool Pleasurebeach once again.

The tide never comes in

Maybe it does, but no one has ever seen it.

If the tide is all the way in you're guaranteed to see pigs flying overhead at the same time.

People from Southport are often found joking over the lack of a tide for a seaside town, asking the question of if no one sees it, does it really happen?

If you have seen the tide all the way in, count yourself lucky.

Southport boasts the oldest iron pier

The historic pier has bellowed over the sands of Southport for more than 150 years, making it the oldest iron pier in the country.

As well as this popular fact, people from Southport won't let you forget that the pier is the second-longest in England either, falling short of Southend Pier by a length no one will mention.

Southport Pier (Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)

Despite it not being the longest in the country, it is undoubtedly the best.

Southport to Manchester isn't the most enjoyable journey via train

This one is pretty unanimous - no one likes getting the train to Manchester.

Despite newer trains being rolled out and people having to use the line to get to and from work, it just doesn't seem to be liked by many.

People much prefer getting the train to Liverpool.

Southport FC was unfairly kept out of the Football League

Southport FC was unfairly relegated to the depths of the football pyramid when clubs voted them out of the league in 1978, going up against their then Lancashire rivals Wigan Athletic.

The vote, cast in the 1978 off season, meant that Southport was shipped off to non-league on June 2 whilst Wigan enjoyed another chance in the Football League.

Southport FC (Southport Visiter)

Who knows where Southport would be had it won the vote, maybe 2013 FA Cup winners?

The one fast food chain missing is Burger King

The town has McDonalds, KFC and countless takeaways, all it needs is Burger King.

Rumours have spread through the town since the closing of McDonalds on Eastbank St a decade ago and people have been calling for the fastfood chain to take a plunge and open a branch in the Merseyside town.

Despite the rumours and endless begging by people on social media there is still no sign of the global chain coming to Southport.

Lord Street is the best high street in Merseyside

A controversial one for those who don't live in the town but the majestic main road steeped in history is something that is loved by those in the town.

Despite the fall of the high street across the country, Lord Street is making a solid attempt to buck the trend and open businesses rather than close them.

The reopening of Beales and the flood of hospitality venues is adding to the sense that Lord Street is undergoing its own revival.

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