When was butlins opened

It was officially opened by Amy Johnson, the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia. Two years later Billy Butlin's chose Clacton-on-Sea for his second camp. Billy was asked to finish his new resort at Filey so it could be used by the military, along with Ayr and Pwllheli, both of which he bought back at the end of the war.

And after holidaying in the Caribbean, Billy sees a gap in the market and opens Butlin's Bahamas. The s also saw the famous monorails brought to Skegness and Minehead, and other new innovations being opened on the camps including chairlifts, a pool with underwater viewing windows and revolving bars.

The Butlin family sold the business to the Rank Organisation. However, it is the 50s and 60s that most people think of as the heyday of Butlin's and the British holiday camp. Butlin's moved with the times in the 60s. The camps boasted a host of decidedly modern features, such as monorails and glass sided swimming pools. This postcard shows the glass sided swimming pool at Filey. Skiing at Butlin's! It might seem strange, but you could even go skiing at Butlin's; Minehead had this dry ski slope.

Winter sports did not have the popularity that they enjoy today, for the majority of people in the UK, a holiday in Spain was adventurous. The ski slope at Butlin's would have been the nearest most people would ever get to a skiing holiday. Butlin's Bognor Regis left was a new addition to the Billy Butlin empire in the 60s.

A long protracted negotiation with Bognor Regis Town Council finally resulted in Billy Butlin moving from a fairground close to the town centre to a fully fledged holiday camp close to the seafront. This shot of the pool left shows the coloured umbrellas that were part of the Butlin trade mark.

Filey - Gaiety Theatre opens. Minehead camp opened Skegness - miniature railway and chairlift opened. Billy Butlin receives knighthood Ayr - Stuart building opened. Full size steam locos arrive Pwllheli - new Nursery building opened Skegness - Princes building opens.

Ayr - Full size steam locos arrive Filey - Beachcomber building opens Minehead - chairlift opened Pwllheli - busiest season ever, camp filled to capacity for several weeks Skegness - monorail opened. Barry Island - chairlift opened Minehead - monorail opened Butlins badges discontinued. Ayr - mainline railway station closes Barry Island - Beachcomber building burns down Billy Butlin retires.

Son Bobby takes over Single sex bookings banned. South swimming pool filled in. Immediately after the fire, the fence was moved and the Ingoldmells building was used to make up for the buildings lost in the fire Radio Butlin toned down.

Filey - new train for miniature railway Minehead - new Flatlets built on site of old sports field. Ayr - new train for miniature railway Clacton - new train for miniature railway Filey - mainline railway station closes Radio Butlin scrapped. The following occured in the s. Clacton and Filey close Bognor - new chalets built Minehead - new chalets built Pwllheli - outdoor pool converted into funpool. Closes down soon after Bobby Butlin retires Minehead - new outdoor funpool Skegness - new outdoor funpool.

Bognor - dining rooms refurbished Clacton - camp contents auctioneed Minehead - new miniature railway running from Reception to Flatlets Filey sold to new owner.

Barry Island sold to Majestic Holidays. New indoor funpool built for Cliftonville hotels 'Hi-de-Hi' catchphrase officially banned by company.

Bognor - renamed 'Southcoast World'. New indoor funpool along with new and upgraded accomodation and buildings.