Image taken by © David Hulme
For more than a century, Blackpool Tower has stood at the centre of the resort’s famous Illuminations, its distinctive silhouette forming one of Britain’s most recognisable landmarks. In August 2019, as the Tower celebrated its 125th anniversary, one of its best-known lighting features was carefully replaced during the first phase of a major LED modernisation project.
The upgrade introduced new LED lighting to the Tower Top, the west face of the structure and a newly constructed illuminated heart. At the same time, responsibility for maintaining the Tower’s external lighting transferred to Blackpool Council’s Illuminations Department, marking a new chapter in the care of one of Blackpool’s most iconic attractions.
Blackpool Tower. © Alamy
Although visitors would simply see a glowing heart suspended high above the Promenade, installing it was a remarkable engineering operation. The steel framework, lighting equipment and electrical wiring were fabricated and assembled off-site before being transported to Blackpool as a single unit. Completing as much work as possible beforehand minimised the amount of time engineers would spend working almost 200 feet above the ground.
The final installation took place overnight to minimise disruption. The Promenade was closed to traffic, safety barriers were erected and a large mobile crane manoeuvred into position beneath the Tower. With favourable weather and careful planning, the completed heart was lifted into the air and guided into place on the Tower’s west face before being permanently secured to the famous iron structure.
Image taken by © David Hulme
Among the engineers involved was photographer David Hulme, who documented the operation from the Tower itself. Looking closely at one of his photographs, a tiny figure wearing a high-visibility jacket can be seen beneath the scaffolding on the left-hand side of the Tower’s steelwork. That figure is Hulme, helping guide the installation of the new illuminated heart, while another member of the engineering team stands nearby, almost hidden amongst the latticework. His photographs provide a rare behind-the-scenes record of an engineering operation that few members of the public ever witnessed.
The new LED heart became one of the most recognisable features of Blackpool Tower’s illuminated appearance, combining modern lighting technology with a design that had long formed part of the Tower’s identity. The wider LED upgrade also improved energy efficiency, reduced maintenance requirements and helped preserve the Tower’s spectacular night-time display for future generations.
Millions of people admire Blackpool Tower each year, yet few appreciate the engineering required to maintain its famous illuminated appearance. David Hulme’s photographs capture one of those rare moments when the hidden work behind Blackpool’s greatest landmark briefly became visible, preserving the story of the night a new heart was lifted into the sky and fixed to the Tower.
IRATA rope access technician conducting maintenance to the illuminations on Blackpool tower. LEE RAMSDEN / ALAMY
