1898 – The New Brighton Tower, Wallasey, Cheshire

The New Brighton Tower was a steel lattice observation tower at New Brighton in the town of Wallasey.. It stood 567 feet high, and was the tallest building in Great Britain when it opened on 4 June 1898, and until recently was the tallest structure demolished in the UK. Neglected during the First World War and requiring renovations, dismantling of the tower began in 1919, and the metal was sold for scrap. The building at its base, housing the Tower Ballroom, continued its use until damaged by fire in 1969 and demolished afterwards.

“The New Brighton Tower and Recreation Company, Limited, purchased the Rock Point Estate, situate at New Brighton, in the county of Chester, near Liverpool, and comprising about 30 acres of land, and have erected thereon a tower with entertainment buildings around its base, a three- lap to the mile cement cycling track, a quarter mile running track, football ground, grand stand, popular stands, &c., divers sideshows, waterchute, refreshment-rooms, band stands, kiosks, and dancing platform, all of which are shown on the block plan we reproduce, and perspective drawing of the tower and main buildings. The tower is built of mild steel, is 5,i0ft. high above the ground, and weighs 2,240 tons. This steelwork and the whole of the ironwork and steelwork in the buildings was supplied and erected by Messrs. Andrew Handyside and Co., Ltd., of Derby. The tower is octagonal in form, and above the buildings surrounding, it is of framing in light lattice work, so as to lessen the wind- pressure and to give a light and elegant appearance. It is capable of accommodating over 1,000 persons on the various floors at the top of the tower, and, as designed by the architects, four electric elevators can ascend the tower at one time. Only two have been erected up to now, and they were erected by Messrs. Easton, Anderson, and Goolden. In addition to these lifts there is a staircase and ladder way for workmen from the top to the bottom of the tower, and arrangements have also been made so that should any elevator get fastened the passengers can easily be transferred to one of the other elevators at any portion of the ascent.

The buildings round the base are composed of red Ruabon brick, with terracotta and Runcom stone dressings. In the basement are large cellars, bottling stores, and artists’ dressing-rooms. On the ground-floor level, immediately under the centre of the tower, there is a theatre arranged on the amphitheatre form, with one of the largest stages in the kingdom, with promenade gallery. There are also refreshment-rooms. On the mezzanine floor are the kitchens and lavatories, with large storerooms. On the first floor is a large octagonal dancing-room, with stage capable of being used for variety performances, and opening out of the dancing-room is a large refreshment-room above this dancing-room is the elevator hall, from which the ascent of the tower is commenced, which is all laid out with stalls in the form of a fancy fair, with shooting bungalows, Arc, and above this again is an open promenade, from which extensive views of the surrounding country can be obtained. The entrance and exit accommodation is ample, as there are four main flights of stairs from the ground level to the top of the buildings, each 10ft. wide, with numerous stalls and landing places therein.

The whole of the buildings were carried out by Messrs. W. A. Peters and Sons, contractors, Rochdale. Lodges and offices have also been built on the estate, and the whole work was carried out at a cost of over 200,000 within the short space of eighteen months, under the able superintendence of Mr. John Ashley as clerk of works. The architects and engineers for the whole work were Messrs. Maxwell and Tuke, Corporation -street, Manchester.”