Accrington on Rails - The Tramways: A Complete History - Robert Kenyon

autumn of 1920 and was always known as the Gordon Shelter after its benefactor. The structure itself was divided into two equal parts by a through central passage, each of which was equipped with seats made up of wooden slats. Not long after opening four destination boards were put up, two each side of the exit, to encourage the formation of orderly queues. The finishing touch came in the form of a clock, which was suspended from the ceiling. The Gordon Shelter was much appreciated by passengers, but after withdrawal of the trams in 1932 and the subsequent dispersal of bus stops, the shelter began to lose its importance. The Gordon Shelter had become a very popular meeting place for retired and elderly people, for whom it was not intended, and this became something of a contentious issue with both passengers and transport staff alike. During 1953 the council proposed to remove the structure, a decision which caused a furore both in public and in the press. In a compromise move the transport committee offered to retain the structure so long as half could be requisitioned by the Corporation Transport for an inspector’s office. This did not meet with the approval of the vociferous opposition, who would not compromise from their stance, so this piece of iconic town centre infrastructure was taken down and a well-loved Accrington landmark was gone for ever. On retirement Thomas Gordon moved to St. Annes-on-Sea, where he passed away at the age of 85. He had also been a Director of the North Pier in Blackpool.

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