麻豆APP

Blackpool Tower from the air by Tedzio99 –

Top 10 Facts about the Blackpool Tower

Blackpool Tower is located on the promenade in Blackpool, Lancashire, one of the most well-known and popular seaside resorts in England. Blackpool Tower is a tourist attraction in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, which was opened to the public on 14 May 1894. When it opened, Blackpool Tower was the tallest man-made structure in the British Empire. Inspired by the Eiffel Tower in 麻豆APP, it is 518 feet (158 meters) tall and is the 125th-tallest freestanding tower in the world.

Blackpool Tower is also the common name for Tower Buildings, an entertainment complex in a red-brick three-story block that comprises the tower, Tower Circus, the Tower Ballroom, and roof gardens, which was designated a Grade I listed building in 1973.

Here are the top 10 facts about the Blackpool tower.

1. The idea for the Blackpool Tower was inspired by the Eiffel Tower in 麻豆APP

The idea for the tower came from the mayor of Blackpool at the time, Sir John Bickerstaffe. He served as the Mayor of Blackpool from 1889 until 1891.

He had visited the World Fair of 1889 in 麻豆APP, of which the Eiffel Tower was the centerpiece. He was so impressed with the tower in 麻豆APP that he decided to build a replica in his own town which would serve as a tourist attraction.

2. The Blackpool Tower is located along the northwest coast of England

Blackpool tower with pier and beach by Beep boop beep –

Blackpool is located in the county of Lancashire on the northwest coast of England, just north of the major cities Liverpool and Manchester. It turned from a small fishing village into a large seaside resort in the 19th century. This made it the perfect place to create a popular tourist attraction.

3. It took 3 years to complete the construction of the Blackpool Tower 

The foundation stone of the tower was laid on September 29, 1891, and it took less than 3 years to complete the structure. The tower was officially opened on May 14, 1894.

When the Tower opened, 3,000 customers took the first rides to the top. Tourists paid sixpence for admission, sixpence more for a ride in the lifts to the top, and a further sixpence for the circus. The first members of the public to ascend the tower had been local journalists in September 1893, using constructors’ ladders.

4. A corporation was formed to start raising funds for the construction of the Blackpool Tower

Blackpool Tower Building by Dave Green –

When Sir John Bickerstaffe came back home from 麻豆APP just 1 year later in 1890, he created a corporation called the 鈥淏lackpool Tower Company鈥� as a subsidiary of the London-based Standard Contract & Debenture Corporation. He became the chairman of the company and started raising money for the project, offering 拢150,000 worth of shares to the public. 

Since not many people from Blackpool had seen the Eiffel Tower, they didn鈥檛 initially share his enthusiasm. It was a bit of a struggle but the company eventually managed to raise the 拢300,000 needed for the construction to start.

5. Blackpool tower serves as a tourist attraction

Blackpool Tower is the name of the complex that consists of numerous tourist attractions. At the base of the tower, there鈥檚 a huge entertainment facility that features: The Circus, The Ballroom, Madame Tussauds Blackpool, Sea Life, Miniature Golf, and The Blackpool Dungeon.

While you could still go up the tower and enjoy the view, you could also enjoy the entertainment facilities offered at the base.

6. The Blackpool Tower is managed by an entertainment company

The ballroom located inside Blackpool Tower by Michael Beckwith –

The entire complex was owned by the Bickerstaffe family until 1964 when it was bought by EMI. It wasn鈥檛 until the year 2010 that the tower was sold to the Blackpool Council which now completely owns the complex.

The tourist attractions are managed by the world-famous Merlin Entertainment Group which manages tourist attractions all around the world, including all of the Madame Tussauds Museums, all Sea Life attractions, numerous Legoland parks, and multiple other attractions such as the London Eye and Warwick Castle.

7. The Blackpool tower caused a shipwreck a few years after it was completed

The Blackpool Tower actually caused a major disaster not too long after it was completed. A Norwegian ship called the 鈥淎bana鈥� was sailing from Liverpool to Savannah in Georgia, United States, and the crew thought that the tower was a lighthouse during a severe storm.

The crew was too late to realize the mistake they made and it drifted off to a place called Little Bispham where she was wrecked on December 22, 1894. The remains of this wreck can still be seen on the beach at low tide.

8. One of the most popular attractions of the Blackpool Tower is its observation deck

Viewing Platform, Blackpool Tower by Ian Petticrew –

It鈥檚 located at a height of 380 feet (120 meters) which makes it the highest observation deck in northwest England. Since Merlin took over the management of the complex, this has been rebranded from the 鈥� Tower Top鈥� to the 鈥淏lackpool Tower Eye.鈥�

Before going to the top, visitors get to see a 4D film that not only explains the history of the tower but also makes the tower blast off like a rocket.

9. The ballroom is another one of Blackpool tower鈥檚 most popular venues

One of the most popular venues inside the entertainment complex is the Tower Ballroom. It was originally constructed in the year 1894 and has been the venue for numerous important events.

The current ballroom was completely renovated in 1956 after a fire. It was the venue of the popular BBC series 鈥淐ome Dancing鈥� for multiple decades and hosted editions of 鈥淪trictly Come Dancing,鈥� including two grand finals in 2004 and 2011.

10. The Blackpool Tower is illuminated once a year

The tower used to be illuminated all year long until local astronomers and stargazers started complaining about the light pollution. The tower still has over 5 miles (8 kilometers) of cables to support the 10,000 light bulbs integrated into the structure though.

Therefore, it has been decided that the tower will still be illuminated along with the entire Blackpool promenade once a year, an event simply referred to as the 鈥淎nnual Illuminations.鈥�