Pharos Lighthouse, Fleetwood

53°55′36″N 3°00′27″W / 53.926530°N 3.007511°W / 53.926530; -3.007511TowerConstructed1840Constructionsandstone towerHeight27 metres (89 ft)Shapetapered cylindrical tower with balcony, lantern and domeMarkingsunpainted tower, white balcony railOperatorPort of FleetwoodHeritageGrade II listed building LightFocal height28 metres (92 ft)Range12 nautical miles (22 km)CharacteristicFl G 4s. visible only on the range line Official nameUpper Lighthouse or PharosDesignated31 March 1978Reference no.1072397

The Pharos Lighthouse (also known as the Upper Lighthouse) is a 93-foot (28 m) tall Runcorn red sandstone lighthouse situated in Fleetwood, Lancashire, England.^[1] The lighthouse was designed in 1839 by Decimus Burton and Capt H.M. Denham.^[2] Burton has been commissioned three years previously by Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood as the architect of the new town of Fleetwood. Construction was completed in 1840.^[3] Unusually for a functioning British lighthouse, it stands in the middle of a residential street (Pharos Street). Though officially named the 'Upper Lighthouse', it has been known as the 'Pharos' since its construction, after the celebrated ancient lighthouse Pharos of Alexandria.

The lighthouse was designed and constructed in conjunction with the much shorter (34 feet (10 m)) Lower Lighthouse (also known as Beach Lighthouse) which stands on Fleetwood sea front. The lighthouses are designed to be used as a pair to guide shipping through the treacherous sandbanks of the Wyre estuary. The light from the Pharos should be kept immediately above the light from the Lower for safe passage down the channel. Both lighthouses were first illuminated on 1 December 1840. Each was run off the town's gas supply, with a single parabolic reflector placed behind the burner;^[4] later they were converted to electricity.^[5] The lamp is approximately 104 feet (32 m) above sea level,^[2] giving a range of about 12 nautical miles (22 km).

For many years, the lighthouse was painted a striking cream and red colour, but in the late 1970s, the original sandstone was again exposed. The Fleetwood terminal loop of the Blackpool tramway runs past the foot of the lighthouse. The lighthouse is managed by the Port of Fleetwood. The interior is closed to the general public.

See also

• List of lighthouses in England
• Listed buildings in Fleetwood

References

Footnotes

Bibliography

External links

Grade I

Places of worship	Churchtown: St Helen St Michael's-on-Wyre: St Michael

Grade II*

Marsh Mill
Places of worship	Pilling: Old St John the Baptist St John the Baptist Poulton: St Chad

Grade II

Beach Lighthouse Fleetwood Museum Garstang Town Hall Hackensall Hall Hambleton Hall 2 Market Place Marsh Farmhouse North Euston Hotel The Olde Ship Pharos Lighthouse Poulton Market Cross Poulton War Memorial Raikes Farmhouse Rossall School Royal Oak Hotel, Garstang Thornton-Cleveleys War Memorial Town End Farmhouse 1 Vicarage Road The White House Wyresdale Park
Places of worship	Barnacre: All Saints Bonds: Sts Mary & Michael Fleetwood: St Mary St Nicholas St Peter Garstang: St Thomas Poulton: St John the Evangelist Preesall: St Oswald Scorton: St Peter Winmarleigh: St Luke

Unlisted

Ashley Hall Black Bull The Bull Cartford Bridge Damside Windmill Golden Ball Jean Stansfield Memorial Park Market Place Old Town Hall Queen's Square The River House RNAS Inskip Rossall Point Observation Tower Shard Bridge Shard Riverside Inn Thatched House Winmarleigh Hall
Places of worship	Bilsborrow: St Hilda Thornton: Christ

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