steel observation tower town borough england stood feet high tallest building great_britain opened time neglected world war requiring renovation owners afford tower began metal sold scrap building base housing tower ballroom continued use damaged fire tower set large grounds included boating lake gardens sports ground sports ground housed different times football team athletics track motorcycle track beatles played tower ballroom times venue united_kingdom nearby liverpool location purchased land north east corner opposite city docks liverpool renamed organised development tourist destination july new group share capital purchased estate demolished ambition create observation tower grounds designed rival tower remaining grounds create elegant atmosphere acres land available construct tower enabled include attractions tower construction company designed tower buildings responsible overseeing supervising project despite deaths company founders excavations laying foundations tower contracted primary contractor tower andrew company based derby ground breaking happened june formation new company completion land purchase announcement contracts july construction steel tower started july completed time years tower finished grounds opened short period tallest building england standing feet tall feet sea level total tons mild low carbon steel cost contrast earlier towers constructed wrought iron building contain ballroom constructed sons storey red brick building arched windows copper turrets series accidents tower construction resulted deaths injury men killed crane hook snapped fell hit platform standing causing fall ground man suffered injuries killed separate incidents falling tower structure fire tower feet resulted death fire fighter fell feet walking beam inch wide try flames tower building new brighton tower regularly advertised highest structure finest place amusement kingdom single entrance fee ticket summer season costing charged entrance grounds included gardens athletic grounds ballroom theatre additional charge levied wished tower building containing lions russian wolves cubs bears bear pit elephants animals ballroom tower building contained shooting gallery saloon tables clothed entertainment buildings hard wearing red brick stone plan buildings octagonal tower built octagonal plan centre storey building dramatic corners emphasised tall pitched roofs topped tower tower lifts capable reaching seconds conveying people hour views included liverpool skyline estuary clear day visitors views year tower attracted half million visitors night tower illuminated fairy lights september visitors left stranded tower final lift car night descended woman year old child noticed final round inspection way communicate ground spent night tower following morning appear concerned ordeal left giving names officials tower ballroom ballroom sprung floor dance band stage accommodate thousand couples dancing separate area couples learn dances taking main floor decorated white gold lancashire towns balcony seating spectators composer enlisted musical director ballroom provide music weekday hours ballroom dancing begin tower erected charge semi military band played outdoors fear tower fall players quoted saying noise tower playing reminded music das played lunch breaks frequently heard saying play soon orchestra disposal convinced management committee allow classical concerts sundays embarked advanced concerts new composers works difficulty finding time practice works afternoon sessions supposed play dance music classical pieces classical pieces spread afternoon programme management felt commercially viable continue concerts years tower appointed principal school music birmingham composer conducted variations new brighton tower ballroom second time performed piece conducted symphony new brighton tower interior ballroom completely destroyed fire restored original style reopened years later november beatles played audience people new brighton tower ballroom headline act half hour concert named hurricanes performed concert beatles played venue times commemorated blue plaque erected british venue beatles played little richard rolling_stones performed tower building opened sited legs tower capable audience largest theatre england outside london season theatre different years play opera focus variety acts lion seven lions wrestling hosted theatre early weekly event americans occupied site second world war tower theatre troops grounds tower grounds enclosed iron gardens roads paths illuminated red white green fairy lights night tower grounds band stand dancing platform fountain seal pond tennis courts gardens separated wooded areas flower beds lake grounds foot water venetian number venues providing including japanese restaurant cater people tea garden restaurant accommodate people café grounds tower large permanent rides including figure wall death railway easy access entrance tower chair lift introduced named hardy performed season tower safety net balancing pole high wire feet dancing platform tower athletic ground area set aside grounds athletics named tower athletic ground consisted stadium opened hope provide additional entertainment visitors tower winter months capacity grounds varied point high rarely approached figure formed football team new brighton tower applied membership team joined start season promptly won league club applied election initially rejected league later decided expand division clubs accepted carried playing company disbanded team gain fan base hoping longer considered financially viable tower athletic grounds multi purpose stadium ground laid athletics field events field encircled athletics track surrounded banked cycle track hosted world cycling championships july biggest sporting track athletics track replaced use saturday motorcycle racing disaster struck bike struck spectators miles hour left woman severe brain injury incident people injured watching stunt foot wide section stands collapsed causing spectators fall feet ground fire destroyed second world war united_states_army took tower athletic grounds storage facility military vehicles invasion france following war stadium reopened home ground new brighton housing sold exhibitions athletic grounds boasted visit group known village west african men women children created village produced sold performed war tournaments songs dances arrived delays meant set time traditional start summer season common time exhibition showing latest wartime pictures audiences summer tours world exhibition tower grounds consisting short films shown railway carriage sound effects movements appropriate times closure tower closed following outbreak world war duration steel structure maintained consequently war government unsuccessful attempts buy tower metal controversy surrounds decision tower war ended believe structure safe repaired demolition began ballroom remained metal sold scrap dealers april ballroom destroyed fire cause unknown place tower grounds including athletics ground stadium new housing estate built river view park community football pitch swing park unsuccessful bid millennium funding build new tower
New Brighton Tower