Pharos Lighthouse (Fleetwood) facts for kids
 |
|
| Pharos Lighthouse, Fleetwood | |
 Pharos Lighthouse
Location in Fleetwood
|
|
| Location | Fleetwood Lancashire England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53°55′36″N 3°00′27″W / 53.926530°N 3.007511°W |
| Year first constructed | 1840 |
| Construction | sandstone tower |
| Tower shape | tapered cylindrical tower with balcony, lantern and dome |
| Markings / pattern | unpainted tower, white balcony rail |
| Height | 27 metres (89 ft) |
| Focal height | 28 metres (92 ft) |
| Range | 12 nautical miles (22 km) |
| Characteristic | Fl G 4s. visible only on the range line |
| Admiralty number | A4892.1 |
| NGA number | 5156 |
| ARLHS number | ENG-043 |
The Pharos Lighthouse is a tall, old lighthouse in Fleetwood, Lancashire, England. It's also called the Upper Lighthouse. This lighthouse stands about 28 meters (93 feet) high. It is made from a type of red sandstone.
It was designed in 1839 by Decimus Burton and Captain H.M. Denham. Burton was also the architect for the new town of Fleetwood. The lighthouse was finished in 1840. What's special about it is that it stands right in the middle of a street called Pharos Street. It was named "Pharos" after the famous ancient Pharos of Alexandria.
Contents
Guiding Ships Safely
The Pharos Lighthouse works together with a shorter lighthouse. This shorter one is called the Lower Lighthouse or Beach Lighthouse. It stands on the Fleetwood seafront.
How the Lighthouses Work Together
These two lighthouses help guide ships. They show ships how to safely pass through the tricky sandbanks in the Wyre estuary. For a ship to be on the right path, the light from the tall Pharos Lighthouse must appear directly above the light from the shorter Beach Lighthouse.
Lighthouse History
Both lighthouses first lit up on December 1, 1840. They originally used the town's gas supply. Each had a special mirror, called a parabolic reflector, behind its lamp. This mirror helped make the light brighter and send it further. Later, the lighthouses were changed to use electricity. The lamp in the Pharos Lighthouse is about 32 meters (104 feet) above sea level. Its light can be seen from about 22 kilometers (12 nautical miles) away.
Changes Over Time
For many years, the Pharos Lighthouse was painted in bright cream and red colors. But in the late 1970s, the paint was removed. This showed the original sandstone material again.
The tram line in Blackpool, called the Blackpool tramway, runs right past the bottom of the lighthouse. The Port of Fleetwood manages the lighthouse today. However, you can't go inside the lighthouse as it's closed to the public.
