24/06/2026
Painting the Historic Lighthouse at New Brighton
Our beautiful New Brighton Lighthouse is nearly 200 years old and has withstood Storms, Fires and Curses.
Work began on the New Brighton lighthouse in June 1827 after instructions from Thomas Littledale the then Mayor of Liverpool. Tomkinson & Company were the company responsible for construction of the new buildings which included a large sloping base built from marble taken from nearby Anglesey. The building was then coated with "Puzzellani" which is a volcanic substance from Mount Etna. The properties of Puzzellani are very curious but make it an ideal product for building in that era. The substance bonds and becomes hard and rock like with age. From the entrance a spiral staircase leads to lighthouse keepers quarters and another door then takes you up into the lantern house.
The state of the art revolving light on top of the building was recorded as being the first in the country to use this system as most used combustible devices such as lanterns. Upon its completion in 1830 the lighthouse stood 90 feet above the dangerous rocks and was considered to be the finest in the Wirral at a cost of £27,500. The first test signal was made on St Davids day on the 1st March 1830 which consisted of two white flashes quickly followed by one red flash. The light was recorded as being visible from a distance of some 14 miles out. As with all the lighthouse on the Wirral the requirement was eventually not longer viable and with the introduction of radar and GPS one can understand why. The beacon last shone its light on 1st October 1973 but the structure still stands today as a reminder of Wallasey’s Maritime Past.
We have many stories to tell on our Summer Evenings inside the Fort.
Come and join us at the Historic Fort Perch Rock in New Brighton for our Tales of the Mersey Evenings. Book Now and find out more https://wallasey-days-gone-by.sumupstore.com/product/tales-of-the-mersey-talks-at-fort-perch-rock
