You can see by examining the ruins of the ballroom fire, the base structure of the former tower 4:28. It was clear that despite the fire and having existed until 1969 that the tower structure was still very much intact and in fact incredibly sound. There is still a mystery today as to the real reason the tower was demolished as it doesnt add up to the fact that the tower wasn't abandoned for a very long period, not enough at the risk of collapsing anyway. A real shame we can't witness this great tower anymore! Would have been a lovely sight looking down the river.
So sad. I lived in New Brighton for a decade on Egerton Street with my home backing on to the Tower Grounds where this magnificent building once stood.
Alsowent with my dad and watching, i was 11yrs old, after this the rot set in and New Brighton has never been the same, the magic went never to return. The one thing that sticks in my mind watching all this great films is not seeing any litter anywhere, unlike today where the streets are paved not in gold but rubbish and litter
Tragic...spent a huge part of my childhood in the Tower ...my relatives all had businesses there. New Brighton has lost all it's amazing attractions which could today have generated big money.
Excellent Vid - I'm 61 and visited New Brighton for the first time ever this weekend. I only live 40 miles away!! (Hoghton Nr Preston) I had never heard of New Brighton Tower and was fascinated to read about it - and to watch your film.
I would've loved to go in the tower. I've lived in new brighton my whole life, but I was born early 2000's so I never got the chance to. It's really sad that such a Beautiful thing was lost.
I only dimly remember the New Brighton Tower and the "Water Works" which was a musical concert with coloured lighting... I was 6 or 7 at the time and was in awe of going to such a grown up occassion in a darkened theatre! Enjoyed your video very much thanks.
Even back in the late 70s, I seem to remember seeing red brick arches still there around the base of where the tower and there being a large cavernous space inside, but I didn’t have the courage to look inside. I wonder if it would have been some part of the ballroom space that still maybe had some part of the roof still intact leaving a space underneath? Clearly they didn’t bulldoze the foundations it would appear but just landscaped over them? Wonder if anyone can shed and light in this?
I was there the day after it caught fire with my dad. Years later me and my school mates used to sneek into the closed Tivoli Theatre at the weekend. Looked like there has been a small fire there too. It must of been around 1976 and not long before it was knocked down
some great pictures, thanks of course - the fire was a disaster, but i did like the pics at the end of the tower building being demolished to reveal the original legs of the tower itself
Well i was there many times and it brought tears to my eyes just watching that short film iv seen many big stars from statside and here and miss it so much and i agree with Janet Kaiser`s comments if it was still here would new brighton still be alive and kicking as it was then my youth was wonderfull
New Brighton Tower was destroyed by fire on Saturday April 5th 1969. I remember going to watch the fire with my dad after I had finished my paper round [Warburtons news agents Seabank Road]
I remember the fair so well - you could see the tower from the bottom of our road here in Waterloo. How I missed the fire I don't know as we were staying at friends house, and they over looked the river, across to New Brighton. Although the actual date escapes me it was the day that my bike was nicked, from our friends' front garden.
New Brighton Tower only had a short life, being demolished in the 1920s, and looks almost identical to Blackpool, in fact it was much higher at over 600 feet. There would be good views from here to Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, and the mountains of the Lake District and North Wales. And of course Blackpool Tower.
I really wonder if the first fire that damaged the tower in 1919 was deliberate, after all you couldn’t really have 2 “Blackpool’s” could you? Then in 69 oddly, 50 years later the base burns down as well, makes you wonder really, Who would benefit if the tower grounds closed for good? Maybe another amusement centre in the vicinity perhaps? Rivalry ?
By 69 blackpool was in its hay day and new brighton couldn't compete the tower Base just wasn't interesting It was porbobaly and insurance fraud But the first fire seems like it was to sell the scrap of the rusted old broken tower It was to skinny to be stable unlike the blackpool tower
Dave dude the not so dream stan interesting points. Yeah, going off topic slightly I thought it was spooky fate the fire when the old base of the tower was revealed inside the ruined brickwork that had fallen away... all those years hidden by the outside brickwork and lo and behold, like a time capsule. Part of the tower is stil there and reveals itself. I wish there was more documented photographs or even plans of the original tower. I would love to see also what was inside the base, all those windows were they fake ie, the brickwork and structure was just to conceal the tower base ...
It was gigantic building, maybe too big for its purpose, you could fit the empire livpool into it three times, personaly I think it was the all smaller buildings in New Brightn that made the place so great.
I liked the video it brought back memories. I would have liked to see more of the inside of the ballroom as I had some happy times there in the 50's. I'm just going to have a hunt to see if there are any vids of the ballroom. in my era the band leader was Bill Gregson.
really sad looked so amazing that tower it was younger than the blackpool tower and now its gone first the tower its self then the building something i think going on and i don't think its aliens
Sad really nothing there now just normal retail shops. I remember in 70s as a very young lad visiting new Brighton it smelt or candy floss and wax booming and had good fair then, nit as good as 50s and 60s
The problem with New Brighton Tower was its location across the river from Liverpool and Bootle at the time when everything and everybody burnt COAL. Unlike Blackpool those ascending NBT would be inhaling the smoke from thousands of chimneys, ships funnels and steam locos, even though some railway lines were the first electric railways in the UK. It would be particularly bad when there was no. wind, or it was slightly chilly. There would often be no view. Only nowadays would the atmosphere be conducive to such a tower, but its unlikely one will ever be built besides Liverpool has St Johns Beacon (built 1970) nearby.
Only in the 21st century would the environment be conducive to such a tower but Liverpool has St John's Beacon (built 1970) which offers tours to the public.
I don't actually think St John's Tower is safe - it's old and has been swaying for years in the Liverpool Bay winds. Only a matter of time till it crumbles. They should dismantle it.
My theory is that the people of blackpool burnt it down out of jelousy :P sad that its just a bunch of gardens now, imagine how much potential of a seaside town NB could be if this hadnt happened :/
New Brighton was too smoggy back then. Also, was Britain like that back then? Rivalries to such a sly and mean extent might be far fetched. It's not like now where there's only one big north west resort. Yeah there's tourism, and people are actually richer in bigger numbers. Just stating the obvious, but there were none of the attractions of recent decades.
You can see by examining the ruins of the ballroom fire, the base structure of the former tower 4:28. It was clear that despite the fire and having existed until 1969 that the tower structure was still very much intact and in fact incredibly sound. There is still a mystery today as to the real reason the tower was demolished as it doesnt add up to the fact that the tower wasn't abandoned for a very long period, not enough at the risk of collapsing anyway. A real shame we can't witness this great tower anymore! Would have been a lovely sight looking down the river.
Excellent footage. Thanks for sharing.x
Fantastic! I watched them damp down the fire the day after with my Dad. Some great images in there most of them I have not seen before!
So sad. I lived in New Brighton for a decade on Egerton Street with my home backing on to the Tower Grounds where this magnificent building once stood.
I must have a look around at this as I take my dog down this road, to the beach
Alsowent with my dad and watching, i was 11yrs old, after this the rot set in and New Brighton has never been the same, the magic went never to return.
The one thing that sticks in my mind watching all this great films is not seeing any litter anywhere, unlike today where the streets are paved not in gold but rubbish and litter
Tragic...spent a huge part of my childhood in the Tower ...my relatives all had businesses there. New Brighton has lost all it's amazing attractions which could today have generated big money.
I hope one day someone could build another tower in the same location
Excellent Vid - I'm 61 and visited New Brighton for the first time ever this weekend. I only live 40 miles away!! (Hoghton Nr Preston) I had never heard of New Brighton Tower and was fascinated to read about it - and to watch your film.
I would've loved to go in the tower. I've lived in new brighton my whole life, but I was born early 2000's so I never got the chance to. It's really sad that such a Beautiful thing was lost.
My Mum and Dad met in the Tower ballroom. I never saw it either!
I only dimly remember the New Brighton Tower and the "Water Works" which was a musical concert with coloured lighting... I was 6 or 7 at the time and was in awe of going to such a grown up occassion in a darkened theatre! Enjoyed your video very much thanks.
Even back in the late 70s, I seem to remember seeing red brick arches still there around the base of where the tower and there being a large cavernous space inside, but I didn’t have the courage to look inside. I wonder if it would have been some part of the ballroom space that still maybe had some part of the roof still intact leaving a space underneath? Clearly they didn’t bulldoze the foundations it would appear but just landscaped over them? Wonder if anyone can shed and light in this?
I was there the day after it caught fire with my dad. Years later me and my school mates used to sneek into the closed Tivoli Theatre at the weekend. Looked like there has been a small fire there too. It must of been around 1976 and not long before it was knocked down
some great pictures, thanks
of course - the fire was a disaster, but i did like the pics at the end of the tower building being demolished to reveal the original legs of the tower itself
Great stuff....fortunately the area is back on its feet again...but we'll miss the Tower and its grounds.
Such a sad loss for new brighton:(
Wow Ive been here many times whilst visiting my boyfriends family. Never realised how popular or swanky the area had been.
Well i was there many times and it brought tears to my eyes just watching that short film iv seen many big stars from statside and here and miss it so much and i agree with Janet Kaiser`s comments if it was still here would new brighton still be alive and kicking as it was then my youth was wonderfull
New Brighton Tower was destroyed by fire on Saturday April 5th 1969.
I remember going to watch the fire with my dad after I had finished my paper round [Warburtons news agents Seabank Road]
Really sad little film.
I'm 47 but i remember around 1969/1970 after the big fire,climbing the disused roller coaster,we did some crazy shit back them,but happy days.
From that first photo the pier is also notably absent.
I remember the fair so well - you could see the tower from the bottom of our road here in Waterloo. How I missed the fire I don't know as we were staying at friends house, and they over looked the river, across to New Brighton.
Although the actual date escapes me it was the day that my bike was nicked, from our friends' front garden.
New Brighton Tower only had a short life, being demolished in the 1920s, and looks almost identical to Blackpool, in fact it was much higher at over 600 feet. There would be good views from here to Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, and the mountains of the Lake District and North Wales. And of course Blackpool Tower.
My Gt Grandfather "Charles Mack" was manager and MC of the ballroom 1907.
oh those great days
I really wonder if the first fire that damaged the tower in 1919 was deliberate, after all you couldn’t really have 2 “Blackpool’s” could you? Then in 69 oddly, 50 years later the base burns down as well, makes you wonder really, Who would benefit if the tower grounds closed for good? Maybe another amusement centre in the vicinity perhaps? Rivalry ?
By 69 blackpool was in its hay day and new brighton couldn't compete the tower Base just wasn't interesting
It was porbobaly and insurance fraud
But the first fire seems like it was to sell the scrap of the rusted old broken tower
It was to skinny to be stable unlike the blackpool tower
Dave dude the not so dream stan interesting points. Yeah, going off topic slightly I thought it was spooky fate the fire when the old base of the tower was revealed inside the ruined brickwork that had fallen away... all those years hidden by the outside brickwork and lo and behold, like a time capsule. Part of the tower is stil there and reveals itself.
I wish there was more documented photographs or even plans of the original tower. I would love to see also what was inside the base, all those windows were they fake ie, the brickwork and structure was just to conceal the tower base ...
@@buffplums I know it was such a beautiful building even the Base
It was gigantic building, maybe too big for its purpose, you could fit the empire livpool into it three times, personaly I think it was the all smaller buildings in New Brightn that made the place so great.
I liked the video it brought back memories. I would have liked to see more of the inside of the ballroom as I had some happy times there in the 50's. I'm just going to have a hunt to see if there are any vids of the ballroom. in my era the band leader was Bill Gregson.
Yes. THE END😢
new brighton tower was bigger than blackpool tower
No pier now either, so much land there it could be amazing with links from m53
Arson, almost certainly started by local yobs.
It was very well known that It was an Insurance pay out job.
really sad looked so amazing that tower it was younger than the blackpool tower and now its gone first the tower its self then the building something i think going on and i don't think its aliens
Sad really nothing there now just normal retail shops. I remember in 70s as a very young lad visiting new Brighton it smelt or candy floss and wax booming and had good fair then, nit as good as 50s and 60s
@Bignadim This is New Brighton not Brighton
The problem with New Brighton Tower was its location across the river from Liverpool and Bootle at the time when everything and everybody burnt COAL. Unlike Blackpool those ascending NBT would be inhaling the smoke from thousands of chimneys, ships funnels and steam locos, even though some railway lines were the first electric railways in the UK. It would be particularly bad when there was no. wind, or it was slightly chilly. There would often be no view.
Only nowadays would the atmosphere be conducive to such a tower, but its unlikely one will ever be built besides Liverpool has St Johns Beacon (built 1970) nearby.
Only in the 21st century would the environment be conducive to such a tower but Liverpool has St John's Beacon (built 1970) which offers tours to the public.
I don't actually think St John's Tower is safe - it's old and has been swaying for years in the Liverpool Bay winds. Only a matter of time till it crumbles. They should dismantle it.
Tall buildings are supposed to sway in high winds
So no rivalry with Blackpool then. Probably an insurance claim, or perhaps something more hard to believe, I'm told.
My theory is that the people of blackpool burnt it down out of jelousy :P sad that its just a bunch of gardens now, imagine how much potential of a seaside town NB could be if this hadnt happened :/
New Brighton was too smoggy back then. Also, was Britain like that back then? Rivalries to such a sly and mean extent might be far fetched. It's not like now where there's only one big north west resort. Yeah there's tourism, and people are actually richer in bigger numbers. Just stating the obvious, but there were none of the attractions of recent decades.
@@therespectedlex9794 yeah, I was a lot younger when i wrote that comment, and I was joking 😁
@@angiebucko You weren't that naíve though. It's still food for thought.
@@therespectedlex9794 thanks ❤️ i appreciate that
Merseyside's 9/11