Leasowe Lighthouse facts for kids

Leasowe Lighthouse is a very old and important lighthouse in Moreton, England. It's located on the Wirral Peninsula in Merseyside. Built in 1763, it helped guide ships safely to the Port of Liverpool. This lighthouse is special because it's the oldest lighthouse made from bricks in the United Kingdom! The lighthouse stopped working in 1908. The last person to look after it was Mrs. Williams, who was the only known female lighthouse keeper of that time.

A Look Back: Leasowe Lighthouse's Story

In 1761, a special law was passed. This law allowed the Liverpool Docks to build four lighthouses. Two of these were built in Moreton. They were called the Upper Mockbeggar Light and the Lower Mockbeggar Light. When these two lights lined up, they showed ships a safe path. This path was called "Rock Channel" and led to the Port of Liverpool.

The Upper Mockbeggar Light is now known as Leasowe Lighthouse. The Lower Mockbeggar Light was built a bit into the sea. Sadly, a big storm destroyed it in 1769. A new lighthouse, Bidston Lighthouse, was built in 1771 to replace it. The other two lighthouses allowed by the law were built in Hoylake. The name Hoylake comes from Hoyle Lake, which was a water channel. This channel was a safe place for ships to anchor.

Leasowe Lighthouse was used until July 14, 1908. By then, the sand banks in the sea had moved a lot. This made the Rock Channel very hard to use. So, the lighthouse was no longer needed. The lighthouse was not just a workplace; it was also a home. Mrs. Williams was the last lighthouse keeper. After the lighthouse closed, she moved into a nearby cottage. But she kept the lighthouse open as a tearoom during the summer!

In 1930, the Wallasey Corporation bought the lighthouse. Mrs. Williams passed away in 1935, and the building was then closed. In 1952, the lighthouse was listed as a historic Grade II building. This means it's an important old building that should be protected. For a while, the lighthouse fell into disrepair. But then, a group of people called "The Friends of Leasowe Lighthouse" worked hard to fix it up.

How Leasowe Lighthouse Was Built

The lighthouse is a tall, round tower. It is one hundred and one feet (about 30 meters) tall. It has thick walls and a balcony. Builders used 660,000 bricks, all made by hand, to build it! The lighthouse has seven floors inside. The original wooden stairs were replaced in 1898. The new stairs were made of cast iron and have one hundred and thirty steps.

When it was first built, the light came from burning coal. But in 1772, it changed to burning oil. A famous engineer named Robert Stevenson visited in 1801. He noted that the tower had a special mirror. This mirror was made of silvered glass and was very large. Later, in 1861, the lighthouse used eight Argand lamps with special mirrors to make the light brighter. A keeper and an assistant lived in the tower to look after the light.

Where to Find Leasowe Lighthouse

The footpath at Mockbeggar Wharf approaching Leasowe Lighthouse

The lighthouse is located on Moreton Common. It's near a place called Mockbeggar Wharf. The wharf gets its name from Mockbeggar Hall. This is another name for the nearby Leasowe Castle. The area around the lighthouse is part of the North Wirral Coastal Park. People enjoy coming here for walks and to watch birds.

Fun Activities at the Lighthouse

Leasowe Lighthouse is a community hub today. Many activities happen here. The park rangers of the North Wirral Coastal Park use it too. People even use the lighthouse for charity abseiling events! Some groups also visit for paranormal tours. Running groups often meet here before their runs. Film and television companies have also used the lighthouse for filming.

The lighthouse has a small visitor centre. It's a main spot in the North Wirral Coastal Park. You can visit the lighthouse on the first and third Sunday of every month.