The Point of Ayr Lighthouse, also known as the Talacre Lighthouse, is a Grade II listed building situated on the north coast of Wales, on the Point of Ayr, near the village of Talacre.[1][2]
| Chester Lighthouse Act 1776 | |
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| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act for erecting a Lighthouse or Lighthouses, and Land Marks, in or near the Port of Chester; and for placing Buoys upon the Banks and Shoals leading into and in the said Port; and for regulating of Pilots and Persons towing or tracking of Vessels to and from the City of Chester; and for fixing the Rates payable for the same respectively. |
| Citation | 16 Geo. 3. c. 61 |
| Territorial extent | Great Britain |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 21 May 1776 |
| Commencement | 26 October 1775[a] |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | Pilotage Orders Confirmation (No. 2) Act 1922 |
Status: Amended | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
It was authorised by the Chester Lighthouse Act 1776 (16 Geo. 3. c. 61) and built in 1776[3] by a trust of the Mayor, Recorder and Aldermen of Chester to warn ships entering between the Dee and the Mersey Estuary. It was replaced by a pile light and was decommissioned in 1844.[4] It is now a privately owned property.
The lighthouse was listed for sale in 2011[5] by then owner James McAllister, along with two acres of land, for £100,000. It was eventually sold in April 2012 for £90,000[6] to a private couple who continue to own the property. Two alleged incidents have been reported by Wales Online.[5]
In 2009, the BBC[7] reported that planning permission had been sought to erect a "human sculpture" inspired by the reported ghostly sightings on the lighthouse balcony. This application was made by then owner James McAllister who intended it to serve as a "serious art installation". Local artist Angela Smith[8] was contracted to design the 7 foot stainless steel ‘lighthouse keeper’ with the initial planning permission being approved for a three-year period. Permission was not sought to retain the structure after this point and the sculpture was relocated.
In 2007 the lighthouse was damaged by storms[9] which resulted in the metal steps leading to the building becoming dislocated and also resulted structural damage with a hole being created in the base according to the BBC. The cost of repairs was covered by the owners of a local caravan park who were involved in the ownership of the lighthouse at the time. The lighthouse featured in the background in a 2011 TV advertisement[10] by paint manufacturer Dulux. The advertisement was designed to mark the 50th anniversary of the first appearance of their Old English Sheepdog mascot.
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| Authority control databases: Geographic |
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