Point of Ayr Lighthouse
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.
 Point of Ayr lighthouse, at Talacre beach | |
  Wales | |
| |
| Location | Talacre Wales United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53.357044°N 3.322174°W |
| Year first constructed | 1776 (first) 1844 (second) |
| Year first lit | 1883 (Dee lightship) |
| Deactivated | 1844 (first) 1883 (second) |
| Construction | brick tower (first) |
| Tower shape | tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern (first) metal pile lighthouse (second) |
| Markings / pattern | white tower, black lantern, red lantern dome (first still up) |
| Tower height | 18 metres (59 ft) (first) |
| ARLHS number | WAL-018[1] [2] |
| Heritage | Grade II listed building  |
It was built in 1776[3] by a Trust of the Major, Recorder and Aldermen of Chester to warn ships entering between the Dee and the Mersey Estuary. It eventually fell into disuse and was decommissioned in 1884. It is now a privately owned residential property.
Ownership
The lighthouse was listed on the property market in November 2011[4] by then owner James McAllister, along with two acres of land, for £100,000. It was eventually sold in April 2012 for £90,000[5] to a private couple who continue to own the property.
Paranormal Activity
There is a history of paranormal activity being recorded in and around Talacre Lighthouse. One incident noted by Wales Online[4] involved the reported sighting of a person dressed in old fashioned clothes standing on the balcony of the lighthouse itself. There were also reports of footprints in the sand leading to the building.
Psychics visiting the site on a separate occasion reported[4] contact with a spirit called Raymond who was once a lighthouse man before dying of a fever.
The Keeper
In August 2009, the BBC[6] 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[7] 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 by the new owners.
Damage
In March 2007, the lighthouse was damaged by storms[8] 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.
TV advertisements
The Lighthouse featured in the background in a 2011 TV advertisement[9] by paint manufacturer Dulux. The advertisement was designed to mark the 50th anniversary of the first appearance of their Old English Sheepdog mascot.
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Point of Ayr Lighthouse. |
- Point of Ayr The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 3 June 2016
- Point of Ayr Lighthouse Wales Directory. Retrieved 3 June 2016
- "Talacre Beach". Discover Flintshire. Flintshire Tourism Association. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- "Yours for £100,000: the haunted lighthouse with great views and a resident ghost". Wales Online. Media Wales LTD. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
- "Landmark Flintshire lighthouse sold". Daily Post. Trinity Mirror Merseyside. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
- "Permanent 'ghost' for lighthouse". BBC. BBC. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
- "Sculpture honours Talacre lighthouse ghost". Daily Post. Trinity Mirror Merseyside. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- "Storms damage historic lighthouse". BBC. BBC. Retrieved 28 March 2007.
- Boyd, Andrew. "Paint dog's comeback at popular tourist site". Leader Live. NWN Media. Retrieved 13 April 2011.