Name and Location

Leasowe Lighthouse, also known locally as "The Old Lighthouse", is situated on the North Wirral coast at Moreton, Merseyside, England. The official address is Leasowe Lighthouse, Lingham Lane, Moreton, Wirral CH46 4TA, United Kingdom, with coordinates 53.4131624 N, –3.1257644 W.

Construction and History

Leasowe Lighthouse was completed in 1763 and is the oldest brick-built lighthouse on the British mainland. It first became illuminated in November of that year. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1870, replaced by New Brighton Lighthouse. Today, it is cared for by The Friends of Leasowe Lighthouse C.I.O. and operates as a small maritime heritage centre.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse's architectural style is Georgian, with a red brick tower featuring stone dressings and lime mortar. The structure stands at 33.5 meters tall, with a circular tapering design and an external gallery and lantern room (now removed). The interior boasts a 143-step spiral brick staircase rising to the former lantern platform.

Light and Navigation

The original light apparatus used candles in a fixed lamp array, later replaced by oil lamps with glass reflectors. The characteristic was a fixed white light with no flashing, historically reported up to approximately 12 nautical miles. Operation was manual by resident keeper, with no automation before decommissioning.

Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse is open to visitors on occasional open days (schedule available on the website). Public may climb the staircase to enjoy panoramic views, although there is no lift – 143 steps, no wheelchair access. Facilities include a small exhibition space on the ground floor, guided tours by appointment, and toilet facilities nearby in the country park car park.

Notable Views and Landscape

The surrounding landscape features coastal sand dunes, saltmarsh, and dune grass within North Wirral Coastal Country Park. Visitors can enjoy views across the Dee Estuary to Hilbre Island, Welsh hills of Flintshire and Denbighshire, and south-east towards the Mersey Estuary and Seacombe shore. Wildlife such as seabirds, migrant waders, and common seals are visible from the headland.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Many 18th- and 19th-century shipwrecks on the Dee bank prompted the construction of Leasowe Lighthouse. Former keepers' logbooks record shipwreck rescues and daily life in isolation – some excerpts are displayed in the visitor centre, offering a glimpse into the lives of those who once called this lighthouse home.

Technical and Operational Details

Grant-aided restoration work was completed from 2012 to 2015, including repointing brickwork, reinstatement of gallery handrail, and repair of the former lantern platform. The structure is listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade II–listed building, protecting its fabric and forbidding demolition or unsympathetic alteration.

Further Information

For more information on Leasowe Lighthouse, please visit their official website at https://leasowelighthouse.com/wp/ or consult the Wikipedia entry at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leasowe_Lighthouse.