DARWEN TOWER, BEACON HILL, DARWEN, LANCASHIRE, ENGLAND.
THE OCTAGONAL JUBILEE TOWER (GENERALLY CALLED DARWEN TOWER) AT GRID REFERENCE 53°41'22.75&amp;;N 2°29'16.72&amp;;W ON BEACON HILL OVERLOOKING THE TOWN OF DARWEN IN LANCASHIRE, ENGLAND. THE TOWER WAS COMPLETED IN 1898 TO COMMEMORATE QUEEN VICTORIA'S DIAMOND JUBILEE AND ALSO TO CELEBRATE THE VICTORY OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE FOR THE RIGHT TO ACCESS THE MOOR. IT WAS OPENED TO THE PUBLIC ON 24 SEPTEMBER 1898.
85 FEET (25.9 M) IN HEIGHT, WALKERS CAN CLIMB TO THE TOP VIA THE INTERNAL STAIRCASE TO ADMIRE THE VIEWS OF NORTH YORKSHIRE, MORECAMBE BAY, BLACKPOOL TOWER, CUMBRIA, THE ISLE OF MAN, NORTH WALES, DERBYSHIRE ELSEWHERE IN LANCASHIRE, AND SURROUNDING MOORLAND.
THERE IS A STONE SPIRAL STAIRCASE TO THE FIRST LEVEL AND SLIGHTLY ABOVE, FOLLOWED BY A SMALLER METAL SPIRAL STAIRCASE WHICH LEADS TO THE VERY TOP. WIND SPEEDS CAN BE VERY HIGH AT THE TOP OF THE TOWER, AND OFTEN MIST BELOW WILL OBSCURE THE SURROUNDING VIEWS. IN 1947 THE ORIGINAL WOODEN TURRET BUILT BY A CREW INCLUDING APPRENTICE ERNEST BROOKS OF DARWEN (WHO LATER BUILT THE LYTCH GATE AT SUNNYHURST WOOD) ON TOP OF THE TOWER WAS BLOWN OFF IN A GALE AND WAS NOT REPLACED UNTIL 1971 WHEN THE TOWER WAS CROWNED ONCE AGAIN WITH A GLASS DOME PAID FOR MAINLY BY FUND RAISING BY LOCAL PEOPLE. THE TOWER WAS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC FOR 19 MONTHS DUE TO BEING DEEMED UNSAFE FOR USE.
THE TOWER DOME AGAIN CAME OFF DURING STRONG WINDS ON THE 11 NOVEMBER 2010. THE NEW TOP IS DUE TO BE REPLACED AROUND OCTOBER 2011.

uk ireland paul near towers diamond beacon victorias on the darwen in tower” “ hill” “christopher photography” “queen of england” “beacon towers” “tower uk” only” “pictures “history jubilee” moor” “england” “outside” “towers “anglezarke “lancashire” “moorland” “darwen darwen” “towers” “zacerin” “darwen”