Lindeth Tower, Silverdale

Lindeth Tower, Silverdale
Lindeth Tower, Silverdale
Lindeth Tower, Silverdale
241490
NMO20140411005
Lindeth Tower, Silverdale
Silverdale
This is Lindeth Tower which was erected in 1842 by Henry Paul Fleetwood, who was distantly related to Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood, who built the town of Fleetwood. It was originally built as a summer house, but gained its fame when Mrs Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell better known as Mrs Gaskell, a Victorian novelist; stayed there for the summer months for several years; she brought her family here to escape the polluted atmosphere of Manchester where they lived. Several of her books are thought to have been written here, including Cranford.
The tower is a listed building; it is built of limestone rubble, 3 storeys high with a battlemented parapet. For a summerhouse it is quite impressive. Many a well to do family erected summer houses or gazebos on their estates, probably taking afternoon tea there, or somewhere for their guests to relax. In one of the local directories for 1913, it states From Lindeth Tower a fine view of Morecambe Bay may be obtained, and as night approaches, the lights of Piel, Fleetwood and Heysham Harbour are seen glittering on the distant water. Locals say that Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood built it where it is, so that he could spy on his ships in the Irish Sea.
Glass slide, positive
Colour
80mm x 80mm
1901
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