Pebble pavements in Bath Street, Lytham

Two pavements formed of multi-coloured pebbles, predominantly dark grey, pink, white and blue, run along parts of the west and east sides of Bath Street. They are considered to be of early to mid-19th-century date with later repairs. The pavements are composed of beach pebbles laid thin side up on sand and inlaid with various patterns and geometric shapes.

WEST SIDE

The pavement fronts a Grade II listed former Methodist Chapel built in 1846 and continues unbroken in front of three Grade II listed neighbouring houses numbered 1 and 3 Bath Street and the Bath Street façade of No.9 South Clifton Street, all built between 1850 and 1860. The pavement is edged with a sandstone kerb at the roadside.

In front of the entrance gate to the former Methodist Chapel, the pattern depicts a three-sided frame widening in width towards the kerb, with the kerb forming the fourth side. At the centre of the frame is a large four-pointed star above two semi-circular features adjacent to the kerb that may represent hills, giving the composition an impression of a large star rising above hills.

In front of the gates to Nos.1 and 3 are two parallel lines of white pebbles running across the pavement from each gate to the kerb. The line in front of No.3 is more complete than the other.

In front of No.9, parts of two sub-circular patterns are picked out largely in white pebbles within an area apparently of recent repair.

EAST SIDE

The pavement runs adjacent to the west boundary wall of No.6a East Beach and continues unbroken in front of a terrace of Grade II listed houses in Bath Street numbered 2 to 10 that were built around 1830. It is edged with a sandstone kerb at the roadside and is crossed in places with moulded sandstone channels designed to carry rainwater from downspouts across the pavement to empty into the road.

Adjacent to the boundary wall of 6a East Beach, three sides of a tapered frame widening towards the kerb are inlaid. Within the frame is an inverted anchor with the date 1831 or 1837 inlaid with blue pebbles on a white background. The composition reflects Lytham's maritime heritage.

A short distance to the north, also adjacent to the boundary wall of 6a East Beach, is a six or eight-pointed star within a circle or wheel suggesting the points of a compass. A line of white pebbles extends diagonally from the circle or wheel to the kerb, and the arrangement is topped with a pattern making the composition vaguely resemble a horse trap or a penny-farthing bicycle.

Outside the door to No.2, a sailing ship at sea is inlaid within a tapering frame that widens towards the kerb and is topped by a semi-circular feature at its narrowest point immediately below the doorstep. This composition also reflects Lytham's maritime heritage.

Outside the door to No.4, a tapering frame contains a circle within which is depicted a windmill of similar design to the Grade II listed windmill built around 1805 and located on Lytham's East Beach approximately 250 metres to the east. Above the depiction of the windmill and in front of the front doorstep is a geometric design of diamonds and a triangle.

Outside the door to No.6, a tapering frame contains a seven-pointed star overlain by a circle. Immediately below the doorstep is a semicircle containing a flower.

Outside the door to No.8, a tapering frame contains an eight-pointed star with a circle at its centre above a band connecting two sides of the frame. There are traces of two crescent moon shapes between the connecting band and the kerb.

Outside the door to No.10, a tapering frame that uses the kerb as one edge contains a geometric arrangement of diamonds and triangles below a heart-shaped design within a semicircle.