The unusual mild weather this winter has sent many people into an early spring-cleaning frenzy. And as people across the country open doors to dust the winter dirt away a similar routine is happening in Britain’s best loved landmarks.
One such national treasure is the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom, which opened 112 years ago.
The Ballroom has seen millions of feet flit across the floor to every type of dance step over the years, and with age brings the inevitable dust, dirt and necessary cleaning.
Every year a special cleaning program brings the ballroom back to its former glory, with an essential floor-cleaning regime.
It begins with industrial steam cleaning services for the more than 120 feet of wooden floors, comprising of 30,602 blocks of gorgeous mahogany, oak and walnut.
Once the floors are finished, 14 chandeliers have to be carefully taken down and dusted, cleaned and bulbs replaced. It’s a mighty task when each chandelier has more than 80 bulbs.
“As you can see it is quite a large job, with over a century of history to be cleaned and polished,” admits The Blackpool Tower General Manager, Kate Shane.
“But it’s well worth it to see the end result, a breathtaking ballroom just as it was over 100 years ago.
“With hundreds of bulbs to be checked, replaced or dusted, it’s all hands on deck to ensure it is done swiftly and to the highest standard.
“The whole process takes two weeks and has to be done with the upmost care to ensure the whole Ballroom looks just as good as it did when it opened back in 1899.
“The annual spring clean happens each year, apart from 1957 when the Ballroom had been devastated by fire.”
The Ballroom sits inside the Blackpool Tower and is open each day to the public to come and show off their dance moves.