Blackpool Tower – The Vision of John Bickerstaffe
In 1889 Mr John Bickerstaffe, an hotelier and town councilor, was built Mayor of weekends in blackpool , a popular seaside holiday city in the northwest of England.
Later that similar year on the trip to France with his family to determine the Good Paris Exhibition he noticed the Eiffel tower, so referred to as soon after its creator Gustav Eiffel, and a dream was born.
Blackpool at that time was from the course of action of becoming the range a single holiday destination to the UK and Bickerstaffe saw that a tower comparable towards Eiffel tower could grow to be a amazing crowd puller.
On February 19th 1891 the Blackpool Tower Corporation was formed with hen parties investing 2,000 GBP of his unique money. Two architects Messers Maxwell and Tuke through the city of Manchester were commissioned. The laying on the foundation stone took position in September of that year.
The deliver the results was completed in three a long time at a price within the area of 290,000 GBP.
The Blackpool Tower was opened towards the public on Whit Sunday, May possibly 14th 1894, with the price of entry set at sixpence with an added six pence to the ride towards the major.
In 1897 the platform in the leading in the tower caught fire and it was reported that the flames could be observed from fifty miles away.
That same year function commenced around the Tower Ballroom. Made by Frank Matcham, who also was responsible for your Grand Theatre, it opened in 1899.
The Tower was ill maintained for that first thirty years and caused by hen parties and among 1921 and1924 all of the steelwork in the construction needed to be replaced but at the very least this avoided the complete demolition that had at primary been discussed.
From the early 1900s the tower was residence into a smaller town situated from the roof gardens which was residence to a organization of midgets who performed since the Blackpool Tower Midget Show. The city boasted its personal town hall, post office, garage and sports club plus accomodation for that company.
Blackpool Tower stands 518ft 9ins above the Lancashire coast.
