Beach Lighthouse

Beach Lighthouse in Fleetwood is a neoclassical sandstone lighthouse from 1840, standing beside the seafront promenade in Lancashire, England. Officially listed as the Lower Lighthouse, it is one of the town's best-known landmarks. Fleetwood itself was laid out in the nineteenth century as a brand-new port and resort at the mouth of the River Wyre.

What kind of building is it?

The tower is about 13 metres (44 feet) tall and built of sandstone. Its shape sets it apart from the usual British lighthouse: a colonnade surrounds a square base, a square tower rises above it, and an octagonal lantern crowns the whole. It looks closer to a small classical temple than to a plain signal tower.

Decimus Burton, who had been engaged a few years earlier as architect of the new town, drew up the design in 1839 together with Captain H. M. Denham. Since 26 April 1950 the building has been Grade II listed.

Why was it built?

The lighthouse was one half of a pair. Its partner, the Pharos Lighthouse or Upper Light, stands further inland. When a ship lined up the two beams it had a safe course into the Wyre estuary. Both lights were first lit on 1 December 1840, at first running on the town's gas supply and later converted to electricity. Pharos is a separate structure, so it is worth seeing both and comparing them.

How do you get there and what is nearby?

The lighthouse sits on the seafront stretch of Fleetwood, close to the promenade and the estuary shore. You can walk from the town centre, and it is easy to spot from the beach and from the water. On the pavement is a pebble compass, a modern recreation of a Victorian original, and a nearby stone marks the former limit of the port's legal quay. The Port of Fleetwood manages the lighthouse, so treat it as a monument to admire from outside.

When should you visit?

The tower stands in the open, so you can see it all year. Photographs work best in low, side-on light in the morning or early evening, when the pale sandstone turns warm. Combine it with a coastal walk and a look at the other buildings that Burton designed for the town.

Frequently asked questions

Are Beach Lighthouse and the Pharos Lighthouse the same thing? No. They are two separate lighthouses from the same year, 1840, that worked together as a leading line. Beach Lighthouse is the Lower Light and Pharos is the Upper Light.

Who designed it? Decimus Burton and Captain H. M. Denham, in 1839.

Can you go inside? The Port of Fleetwood manages it, and it is mainly known as a landmark seen from outside. Do not plan on entering without checking first.

Is it a protected building? Yes. It has been Grade II listed since 26 April 1950.