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As a 12 year old, Carol Cooper used to look out across the rows of chimney pots to the nearby lighthouse, harboring a dream that one day she could call it home. Little could she imagine that dream would come true.
Says Carol, "As a child, I lived nearby and could see the lighthouse. It was a landmark I grew up with, always hoping that someday it would be my home. Years later I met the man who owned it and I jokingly said, If you ever sell it, let me know." Later after she married Tony Jordan, the offer came and she and Tony jumped at the opportunity.
Her three sons are now grown and gone from home and the house is simply far too large for her and Tony. Reluctantly, they have put it up for sale.
If you have ever dreamed of living in a lighthouse, this magnificent structure in the United Kingdom would give you that opportunity. And believe me, this is not just any lighthouse.
Some History
It was back in 1716 that the merchants of Liverpool obtained an Act of Parliament allowing them to build lighthouses and to charge shipping for their maintenance. Four lighthouses were built, two at Leasowe and two at Hoylake. The lower of the "Lake Lights" as those at Hoylake were called were originally relatively small structures and lasted until 1865 when they were demolished and two new lighthouses were built. Both lighthouses were identical in design, except the lower light was smaller in design.
The Hoylake Lighthouses were the main navigational beacons serving the then main Port of Liverpool which was Hoyle Lake and it was only due to the silting up of Hoyle Lake in the late 19th century, that the deep water port of Liverpool became fully established.
The lower lighthouse was last lit in July, 1908. It them became the entrance to the Lighthouse Pavilion Theatre which hosted variety acts and later became a cinema. The lighthouse was demolished in 1922.
The upper lighthouse which still stands is the one owned by Tony and Carol Jordan. However its beacon has not been lit since it was discontinued in May of 1886.
Living Here
The solid stone lighthouse did not actually have any living quarters in the tower. Carol and Tony live in the former lighthouse keepers quarters which was originally two homes and have since been combined into one large home with five large bedrooms.
Everything has been restored and refurbished to present an elegant family home benefiting from modern day luxury amenities such as oil fired central heating, fitted kitchen with Aga cooker, modern deluxe bathroom and shower room, all sympathetically blended with period features, such as marble fireplaces, mahogany panelled family room, deep moulded skirtings and architraves and gothic style windows.
Overall, the accommodation which is offered on two floors, provides three reception rooms, two bedrooms on the ground floor, and second floor there are three more bedrooms and a shower room. From the main hall, access can be gained to the lighthouse tower with its original wrought iron spiral staircase leading to the lantern room and its outstanding views over North Wirral and Liverpool Bay.
Inside the Jordan's lighthouse home, two arched doors at the end of the main hall open out to reveal the inside of the imposing lighthouse, which still boasts its original exposed, wrought iron staircase with solid wood banisters. Standing 70 feet tall, the climb is not for the faint-hearted.
And yet it's a spiral staircase that has been well used since Carol and Tony first moved in. Every year tourists knock on their doors wanting to explore. A historical society pays regular visits and the ITV's Morning Weatherman has broadcast many a weather forecasts from the balcony of the lantern room.
"There are 72 steps all the way up," says Carol, "and when Tony and I first moved in we would run up and down the stairs twice a day to help keep fit."
"When the lifeboat or Red Arrows displays are on, we suddenly find we have lots of friends, all wanting to watch the activities from the very top." And for those who venture to the top of the stone tower, the bird's eye view takes in the North Wales coast as far as Llandudno.
Surprisingly, the lighthouse takes little looking after. At the base of the tower, the walls are 10 feet thick and although the lighthouse may eventually need repointing, the structure is extremely sound.
It is the large keepers quarters which needed the majority of the work. Most rooms boast period fireplaces, but the house originally had no central heating. When they first moved in they worked round the clock to install the 22 radiators too heat the spacious home.
Carefully chosen antiques and prints give the 19 room home a practical, but comfortable air. "An ideal place," says Carol, to raise three boys.
She went on to say, " It was a wonderful home for the boys. My son Andy was heavily into astrology and would sleep in the tower. Whenever there was a childrens' party, we would have it in the tower and the boys were always tearing up and down the spiral staircase."
Carol continued, "We had many fabulous parties here and the lighthouse lends itself to entertaining. Even now the children come to stay if we're away and my grandson, Elliott, is fascinated by the tower. Sometimes I have groups of school children come in and want to look around."
Although the tower hasn't been used as a lighthouse for over 100 years, during the Second World War it served as a watch tower and more recently it was used to guide ships as they searched for oil in the Irish Sea.
The original beacon, although no longer in the tower, has been rescued and now has a place of pride on the ground floor where it is proudly displayed.
The main house is a "treasure chest" in itself. Hidden behind gold, ornate mirrors are doorways leading to extra rooms and many of the family rooms have the original wood beams in place in the roof. Light pours into the home from 50 floor-to -ceiling windows.
And the bathrooms with their period style brass fittings, pedestal wash basins, beautiful tile look magazine perfect.
And lets not forget the grounds which include a large garage and driveway with double front gates and sandstone gate pillars. There is a superb front garden with lawned area, flower borders and beds, rockeries, sandstone banks with shrubs, built in outdoor barbecue. In the back yard there is a lawned area with flower borders, a weeping willow, a greenhouse, fruit and vegetable garden and a substantial workshop and garden shed.
The ravages of time may not have aged the home and lighthouse, but it has changed the price from the time when the Jordan's bought it years ago.
But, as Carol says its a small price to pay for happiness.
If you are interested you can write to the Realtors at: Black Horse Agency, Sykes Waterhouse, 11 Banks Road, West Kirby, Wirral, Merseyside, L48 OQX, United Kingdom. Or you can write to Carol Jordan, The Hoylake Lighthouse, Valentia Road, Hoylake, Wirral, United Kingdom.
This story appeared in the
July 1996 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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