History of St Annes Town Council

The Parish of Saint Annes on the Sea was created on 1 April 2005 after almost three years of effort by dedicated residents who wanted the town to have a voice. They duly elected the first Parish Council on 26 May. Two years later, councillors voted to change its name to Town Council and the following year voted to have a town mayor.

For almost four years town council policy has tried to reflect the wishes of St Annes residents and to protect the heritage of the area.

St Annes was founded in 1875 from an idea, a vision, and a partnership. Squire Thomas Clifton wanted to change from agriculture to urban development and employed James Fair as land agent to initiate that change. But it was the squire’s son, John Talbot Clifton and Fair’s son, Thomas, together with the St Annes Land and Building Company, who finally established the new town of St Annes on the Sea, its name being taken from the church dedicated to St Anne in 1872 by Lady Eleanor Clifton.

The town was served by new roads and a railway line, and some thirty years later had become a well-established, high-class residential and holiday resort. It has grown and developed since then and seen many changes but throughout it all still remains a traditional holiday destination and a pleasant and healthy place in which to live and work.

Historical information from St Annes on the Sea, A History by Peter Shakeshaft.