These fascinating photographs chart the remarkable 132-year history of Blackpool Tower — and for anyone proud to call Blackpool home, they are bound to stir more than a little emotion.
Standing an incredible 518ft above the promenade, the mighty structure remains every bit as commanding today as when it first rose above the town skyline in the Victorian age.
Its story began after Blackpool’s mayor, John Bickerstaffe, visited Paris and was captivated by the new Eiffel Tower. Determined that Blackpool should have a landmark to rival it, plans were drawn up for a tower of its own beside the sea.
The foundation stone was laid on September 29, 1891, with a time capsule buried beneath it - it is obviously still a curious mystery. Designed with Blackpool’s coastal winds in mind, the tower was engineered to sway gently in strong breezes, a remarkably advanced idea for its era. In total, it contains 2,500 tonnes of iron and five million bricks.
Since opening to the public in 1894, Blackpool Tower has become the resort’s most iconic symbol and undoubtedly its most photographed attraction.
19. Blackpool Tower memories
This was when Blackpool Tower was given a £60m price tag from FindaProperty after they consulted with local estate agents | National World
20. Blackpool Tower memories
The Aquarium at Blackpool Tower in 1876. Courtesy of the Warren Smith Collection | Warren Smith
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Roy Payne has a flight around Blackpool Tower | National World
23. Blackpool Tower memories
And we've had the urban explorers scaling Blackpool Tower too | National World
24. Blackpool Tower memories
A view of the pier and coast from Blackpool Tower in 1983 | Getty Images