The infamous ‘walk of faith’ at the top of The Blackpool Tower first opened nearly 20 years ago in 1998. On a clear day The Blackpool Tower can even be seen from as far away as Wales and the Lake District. But, thanks to a unique design and some clever construction, in the unlikely event that The Blackpool Tower ever did fall down, it would fall into the sea rather than the buildings around it. Given The Blackpool Tower’s height, the number of surrounding buildings and the fact that it is built with 2,500 tonnes of iron and 5 million bricks, there were concerns about safety if it were to collapse. On September 29th 1891, The Blackpool Tower’s foundation stone was laid with a time capsule buried underneath it. In heavy winds, which are common at the seaside, The Blackpool Tower will gently sway along with it. Rather than fight against weather conditions, the most advanced modern buildings will try to move with the elements - take the “earthquake-proof” buildings in Japan for example - but The Blackpool Tower was miles ahead of its time. In fact, he loved it so much that he invested £2,000 of his own money into the construction! The Mayor of Blackpool, John Bickerstaffe, attended the Great Paris Exhibition in 1889 and was so impressed by the structure that he commissioned The Blackpool Tower to be built upon his return.
If you’ve ever wondered why The Blackpool Tower looks so familiar, it’s because it was modelled after the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris.
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It’s visible from so far away, giving drivers along the motorway the reassurance that they are firmly in the North.īut it’s not just a glorious sight to see as you approach the iconic seaside town, it’s also a tourist attraction that brings thousands of visitors a year to the seaside town. There’s so much to do there that you can spend an entire day inside and not be bored for one minute.Įven if you love it, we bet there’s a fair few things that you didn’t know about this beloved landmark. The Blackpool Tower is one of the most famous and easily recognised landmarks in the UK. Go back to news 8 FACTS ABOUT THE BLACKPOOL TOWER YOU DIDN’T KNOW BEFORE