Friday 22 July 2016

THE RISE OF THE BAKERY

Some of you Dan Dare fans out there might recall a post I did last August regarding the sad state of The Bakery in Churchtown, Southport, the building that was used as a studio in 1950 by Frank Hampson and his team of artists to produce the first fourteen or so issues of the fondly remembered Eagle comic before they moved to Epsom.



These were some photos I took in May 2015 of the old lean-to building looking extremely dilapidated.





It pretty much looked like it was ready to fall down at that point. However, what a difference a year makes.


This is the old bakery now, totally refurbished and looking better than what it did in 1950.





I imagine the space-faring Son of Southport would give the thumbs up to this.


6 comments:

  1. Great follow up articel and pix, Scoop. Wondeful to see it's still there in structure and spirit.

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    1. Yes I was pleased to see it rebuilt. I'd hate for it to disappear.

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  2. It's surprising that neither English Heritage nor National Trust are involved in saving this important structure given the significance of Eagle in the lives of so many. Thank you for the update of the site.

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    1. It's not really that simple. The house attached is a private residence and owned by a private land owner so English Heritage or the National Trust wouldn't be involved.I'm just glad that it's been renovated : D

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  3. Although it's still kind of sad that the actual structure that Frank and his team worked in has gone. However, as it looked on the verge of collapse, I don't suppose there was much choice in the matter.

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    1. I think you're right about that Kid. I know what you mean about the original structure but at least there's something still there, and from what I can remember going inside it a few years back the old Belfast sink is still in the corner where they might have washed their brushes.

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