How a historical lighthouse was saved from dereliction

When you think of the historical landmarks on the north west of England coast, a lighthouse in Wirral might not immediately spring to mind.

But did you know Leasowe is home to what is considered to be the oldest surviving brick-built lighthouse in the UK?

Built in 1763 and standing 110ft high (34m), the lighthouse helped to reduce shipwrecks on the dangerous sandbanks of Liverpool Bay for decades - but after becoming obsolete, the building soon fell into disrepair.

It was only saved when a group of local people took action and, in 1989, the Friends of Leasowe Lighthouse was set up. The group continues to maintain the building to this day.

"Many people don't realise it is here or they didn't know it was open," Friends of Leasowe Lighthouse volunteer Alan Hodson said.

"They are very surprised when they do actually get inside and realise the history of it."

The lighthouse, which was built with 660,000 hand-made bricks, was originally coal-fired and was converted to oil-burning in 1772.

It remained an oil burner for the remainder of its operational life, but after illuminated buoys were introduced along the sea channels the lighthouse was no longer needed.

The light was lit for the final time on 15 July 1908 and by 1930 it had been bought by Wallasey Corporation.

But despite becoming a Grade II-listed building in 1952, the building fell into disrepair.

After the Friends of Leasowe Lighthouse was set up, the local council went on to approve a £30,000 scheme for refurbishment.

The group continues to run the lighthouse and holds regular open days and events to raise funds to support the building.

With views across to North Wales and as far as Blackpool and the Lake District, volunteers say they never get bored of climbing the 130 steps to the top.

"I love coming up here because it's always different, it depends on where the tide is, what the weather's doing, what the visibility's like, it's always interesting," Monika Vorberg chair of Friends of Leasowe Lighthouse said.

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