The army commandeered the Clifton Park Racecourse at Squires Gate (site of present Blackpool Airport) which closed on the 26th April 1915.

Clifton Park Racecourse during conversion into the Military Hospital, 1915.
This view was taken looking from the grandstand towards the sea with the sand dunes in the distance.

Over the following six months the racecourse buildings were converted into the Clifton Park Military Convalescent Hospital which opened 1 October 1915 for injured soldiers from the Lancashire and Yorkshire Regiments. After seeking permission from King George V it was renamed The King's Lancashire Military Convalescent Hospital.

According to newspaper reports some 2,000 hospital beds were placed in the old racecourse grandstand and a number of newly constructed huts. Wounded soldiers were treated, rehabilitated and returned to active service. The hospital was under the supervision of Doctor Winder of South Shore, Blackpool.

In 1919 it became the King's Lancashire Convalescent Centre (K.L.C.C) where soldiers were rehabilitated and retrained with skills needed for their return to civilian life. It is estimated that about 38,000 men were treated on this site during and after the 1914-18 War.

FOR LANCASHIRE'S WOUNDED SOLDIERS

CONVALESCENT MILITARY HOSPITAL AT BLACKPOOL

In about another fortnight Lancashire will have its own convalescent military hospital at Clifton Park Racecourse, South Shore, Blackpool. The work of conversion is rapidly proceeding, and many interesting details were given by Lieutenant-Colonel Netterville Barron M.V.O., the officer commanding, to representatives, this week shown round the course. It will be the fourth great military camp hospital.

At Eastbourne, there is one of 3,000 beds, at Dartford one of 1,000 beds, the Epsom hospital will eventually have 5,000 beds, and the Clifton Park Hospital -- Colonel Barron thinks, it ought to have a better name -- County Palatine Military Hospital, for instance, -- will provide 2,000 beds for a start. Possibly there will eventually be far more beds, for it is to provide for all Lancashire's wounded and war worn soldiers who can be made fit and strong again for the firing line. This is the object of the hospital.

No patients who are really ill will be dealt with, only cases that are likely to be well enough to go back to the front in six or eight weeks will be taken. Colonel Barron explained that physical culture will play a large part in the scheme. There are to be trained masseurs at the hospital. Lord Derby is now issuing an appeal for money to equip and pay the running costs of the massage and electrical equipment of the hospital.