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Posted by Editor on 16th April 2010 at 05:44 PM
Video: The Monton Lighthouse - Part 1
by Tony Flynn

If you have passed along the Bridgewater Canal at Monton you cannot fail to have seen the Monton Lighthouse, not only a local landmark but a marvellously eccentric piece of architecture, a lighthouse thirty-six miles inland!

The owner is "Barnacle" Phil Austin, the man who built the lighthouse and the owner of the magnificent gentleman's sailor boat, the Victoria R.

Over the next few weeks we will be talking to Phil, who will tell us about the construction of the lighthouse (or is it a four story storage unit?)

We shall look inside the building and hear the fascinating tales about how it came to be built, the circular furniture from the BBC, the spiral staircase from a disused church in Birmingham and much more.

The Victoria R, which dates from 1891 is unique in that it has an electric engine, instead of the usual diesel engine, which makes it much more eco friendly.

Phil tracked the boat down from its original moorings on the Thames in London to Beverley in Yorkshire, he has lovingly restored it and soon it will be available for hire for pleasure trips along the Bridgewater Canal and possibly to hire for wedding parties to sail to Worsley Court House in some considerable style.

Phil also gives talks to various societies about his lighthouse and his boat, so we are in for a treat as he gives us the full amazing story of how it all came to fruition.

Would you believe it all started after a conversation he had with a drunken man in Lymm?

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  20th April 2010
This is going to be a good one, love the Lighthouse, everything else is going to be a bonus, can't wait for the videos.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  19th April 2010
The best projects always start with drunken conversations!

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Mark Armstrong ( member )  19th April 2010
This is the kind of thing that makes Great Britain unique, congrats to Phil for completing an outstandin landmark in Salford

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  19th April 2010
Barnacle Phil. Keep up the good work the lighthouse looks marvellous and is a landmark to Monton and is a talking point to everybody who passes. We need more people with vision and insight like you, your a credit to the area. Landlubber of Eccles.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  17th April 2010
Will the owner open the lighthouse up for the general public to have a nosy around,it looks really interesting.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  16th April 2010
This is a great building and something I have always wanted to go into, seen loads about it in the paper. This should make a great set of videos for SalfordOnline.

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