Wyre Light Lighthouse

The Wyre Light Lighthouse is one of three in Fleetwood. Situated nearly two miles off Fleetwood, the disused lighthouse marks the entrance to the River Wyre channel. You can still see it today, but it’s now falling over into the sea. Thanks to Mark Kimber who took this excellent close-up photo (above) of the Wyre Light while he was out sailing in April 2015.

The three worked together to guide ships to shore along the channel of the River Wyre. Fleetwood is unique in having three lighthouses. Ships approaching land would line them up and know they then had safe passage into the Wyre estuary to dock safely at Fleetwood. Take a look at them and how they work in this video –

The next brilliant bit of aerial footage is thanks to Paul Ashworth. Filmed on 28 May 2016 with a Phantom 4 drone. We’d like to thank Paul for sharing it with us.

Wyre Light – Collapsing into the Sand…

Interested in the Wyre Light and its history? You’ll know that it’s been at threat of collapse for a long time.

Rachel Lane took the next photo, on Saturday 22 July 2017. It’s probably one of the last ones showing it in an upright position.

However, a storm on 26 July 2017 caused it to shift to one side. It finally started to fall over. That marked a sad day for Fleetwood. Watch the report here from BBC North West

Trying to Preserve History…

Local people and Fleetwood Civic Society have spent considerable time and a lot of effort over the years, trying to establish who the owners of the Wyre Light are. The ambition was to start the process of preserving at least some of the unique landmark for future generations. The hope was to survey the structure then stabilise the legs. But first, the owner had to be established.

An unsolved puzzle…

Lancashire County Council, the Duchy of Lancaster, Trinity House and ABP all denied ownership of the structure. But someone must own it! Fleetwood Civic Society requested that it be listed. But even Historic England refused to acknowledge its importance.

The puzzling question is, back in the days when it was maintained by the railway company, where did they send the bill? Sadly, despite no stone being left unturned, no one would admit to owning it. You can understand why. They’d be the ones left with the responsibility – and the bill for doing something with it!

Local Research

Steven Christy was in touch in November 2020 with the following information. He says “I did a lot of research in 1987 on the lighthouses of Fleetwood for my history exam and I found out some interesting facts about Wyre light. I believe that from 1985 all three lighthouses were owned by Wyre Borough Council. Also the Wyre light that we see today isn’t the original one.

“The original one was destroyed by a schooner in 1848 on entering the channel. It was struck on many occasions by shipping, this schooner from Ardrossan was shipping pig iron. The upper structure of the lighthouse itself was taken back to shore and used as an office at the Dock gates. The new Wyre light was then constructed 200 yards from its original position.

“The one we see today caught fire in 1948. Some say it was started by a flare set off at the local sea cadet base on a training exercise, but that’s never been confirmed. During the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s my grandfather Mr Eric Christy (a carpenter) did numerous repairs on the lighthouse. I remember as a child seeing his photos of the interior (sadly they’ve been lost over time). It’s sad to see the Wyre lighthouse as it is today.

After the Storm

George Booth took the next photo of Wyre Light, collapsing into the sand, on Saturday 23 September 2017. George said “It’s very sad looking at the state of it now. There’s only the steel leg, replaced many years ago and one wooden leg remaining attached. The wooden one’s split, so I don’t think it will be long before it breaks completely.”

WARNING: Please DO NOT attempt to walk out to Wyre Light. The sands are very dangerous and there is a real risk of loss of life.

Covered at High Tide

In August 2020, the Association of British Ports (ABP) issued an official warning for mariners to be wary of the structure. It had collapsed even further on Tuesday 18 August 18. It’s now covered by the sea during the higher tides.

ABPs official statement said: “Mariners are advised that Wyre light at the entrance of Fleetwood Channel now fully covers on high water of nine-and-a-half metres and above, due to further collapse of the structure. All mariners are advised to navigate with caution when entering Fleetwood Channel.”

Unique History

Alexander Mitchell built Wyre Light in 1839-40. It stands offshore where the Irish Sea meets the estuary of the River Wyre on the northeast corner of North Wharf and Lune Deep.

It’s first name was ‘Port Fleetwood Lighthouse’. In the early days it was a tourist attraction, and people enjoyed short boat excursions out to see it. By the end of the 19th century, these excursions had declined.

Did you know? Fleetwood is unique in having three lighthouses.

Wyre Light is also unique in its own right – as the first screw pile lighthouse built and lit in Britain. It originally sat on seven screw piles, each driven into the seabed. In fact it was the first completed screw pile structure in the world. As such it has a huge historical significance.

When newly built, Wyre Light stood 40′ (or 12m) tall. The platform supported a two storey building which housed the keeper who manned the lantern. After the fire of 1948, an automatic beacon replaced the original one. A lit buoy replaced that in 1979.

Design Drawing

The illustration below is Captain Denham’s design drawing. It shows how the lighthouse would be built, erected on the Sea Reach of Wyre leading into Port Fleetwood. As erected on seven Mitchell’s Screw Piles.

A fire in 1948 destroyed the building. Rough seas have gone on to damage much of the wooden structure over the years, leaving behind derelict remains. The Wyre Light was 175 years old in 2015.

Wyre Light Lantern

The large copper and glass lantern from the Wyre Light is on display at Fleetwood Museum in the Harriet Boat Hall.

After the disastrous fire of 1948, this was the main light on the structure. In 1979 a lit buoy replaced the ‘Wyre Light’. Batteries operated the Lantern and the fog horn worked off gas. It stands around 4 feet tall.

Wreck Trek

The RNLI take an annual guided walk out to the Wyre Light. A very popular event, it attracts hundreds of people who go out into the Bay to see the lighthouse and a landscape you don’t normally see.

• Find out more about the Wreck Trek here

Wyre Light during the Wreck Trek (Please don’t attempt to walk out to the Wyre Light)

Bring the Past to Life

Does this article whet your appetite to find out more? Join Save the Wyre Lighthouse Facebook group.

See lots of fascinating photos of Wyre Light over the years. Hear the voices of people who worked there and others connected to a life at sea. Local fishermen and photographers also share amazing shots of the lighthouse in the group.

Wyre Light (Photo: Mark Kimber)

Get your own Wyre Light

This Seaside Emporium print is available in a variety of sizes and frame options from the Care for Cleveleys Shop. All profits from sales are reinvested into improving Cleveleys.