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Blackpool Tower Construction History
The cost to build the tower was just under £300,000, roughly £30m in today’s world.
It is made up of more than five million bricks, 2,493 tons of steel and 93 tons of cast iron.
From the very top of the tower, on a clear day, visitors can see across to the Lake District, the Isle of Man and North Wales.
The Tower is well known to viewers of Strictly Come Dancing, with the Tower Ballroom hosting the annual Blackpool special.
11th July 1953: Construction workers balance precariously over the streets of Blackpool over 500 feet below, as they work on the famous Tower.
Credit: Ronald Startup/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
History of Blackpool Tower
Built between 1891 and 1894, the tower is 158m (519ft) high and is a Grade I listed building, writes Will Bolton.
Inspired by a trip to Paris in 1889, former Blackpool mayor Sir John Bickerstaffe had the idea of building a Lancashire version of the Eiffel Tower.
The Blackpool Tower was first opened to the public in May 1984 and at the time it was the tallest man made structure in the British Empire.
When it first opened, tourists paid sixpence for admission, sixpence more for a ride in the lifts to the top, and a further sixpence for the circus.
The top of the Tower caught fire in 1897, and the platform was seen on fire from up to 50 miles (80 km).
In 1940, during the Second World War, the crow’s nest at the top was removed to allow the structure to be used as a Royal Air Force radar station known as ‘RAF Tower’.
In 1977, the top of the tower was painted silver as part of Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee celebrations.
Specialist climbing team arrive at the scene
A specialist climbing team from Lancasghire Fire and Rescue Service have arrived at the scene.
The incident is causing traffic problems on the Promenade with heavy jams on roads surrounding the Tower and one onlooker describing it as “chaos”.
They told Lancashire Live that firer engines had arrived at the scene in a matter of minutes.
“It’s been absolute chaos down here – people don’t expect something like this to happen to such a famous building,” they said.
“We heard everyone inside had been evacuated. I hope nobody was hurt.”
Six fire engines in attendance
There are six fire, a drone team and a rope rescue team currently at the scene.
In a statement, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We have six fire engines, the drone team and the rope rescue team currently in attendance at a fire on Promenade, Blackpool. Please stay away from the area.
“The drone team are in operation so please do not fly drones in the area as you may obstruct emergency operations.”
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