When you walk up to Leasowe Lighthouse on the windswept Wirral coast, it feels almost timeless. Built in 1763, it’s Britain’s oldest brick-built lighthouse. It’s also been out of use for over 100 years; it’s light was extinguished in 1908.
Currently, a team of dedicated volunteers called ‘The Friends of Leasowe Lighthouse’ keep the metaphorical light alive. I made the trip to Leasowe to meet one of their volunteers, Rose, on the 7th of May 2025.
Meeting Rose
At the lighthouse I had the pleasure of sitting down with Rose Campion, one of Leasowe Lighthouse’s volunteers. Rose spoke about her love for the lighthouse and why she keeps coming back.
“When you come in, if you like old buildings… people almost instantly feel that this is a friendly building” she told me. “They like the feel of it. It had the family living here for a long time, and I think that’s part of it. It does feel homely. It’s sort of hypnotic. You have to come back!”
For Rose and the team at Leasowe, volunteering isn’t just about opening the doors on a Sunday. It’s about creating a community hub built around the local shared maritime history.
Inside Leasowe Lighthouse
Leasowe Lighthouse feels wonderfully atmospheric. The interior is simple but steeped in history. It features stone steps spiralling upwards, cool brick walls that whisper of past keepers’ footsteps, and small rooms once used for living quarters and maintenance. Not every room is open to the public, as the lighthouse is in need of renovation. However, the rooms which are open are fantastic. The Archives room was a particular highlight of mine.
The final family of lighthouse keepers at Leasowe were the Williams. When they lived there, the Archives room was the master bedroom. Now, it’s a beautifully kept room where you could happily lose several hours reading within the old brick walls and piles of books. I could have stayed all evening if I’d had the opportunity!
Up in the lantern room, you can see out over the Wirral coastline. Enjoy views of salt marshes, distant industry, and the silver sweep of the Irish Sea. If you fancy it, you can even abseil down the lighthouse on certain days!
A Living Heritage & Final Thoughts
Spending time at Leasowe wasn’t just about exploring an old lighthouse. It was a chance to see heritage in action. Local people dedicating time, skill, and love to preserve a historic building and keep its stories alive.
Lighthouses are more than brick and iron. They’re places where history meets memory. Volunteers like Rose ensure future generations can climb the steps, hear the tales, and feel the same connection to the sea.
There are a few different lighthouses dotted around the country similar to Leasowe. For example, Happisburgh in Norfolk. These places depend upon volunteers contributing their time and energy to the cause. It’s always heartwarming to spend time with people who believe in improving their local community and bringing people together. What better way to bring people together, than through a lighthouse?
If you ever find yourself near the Wirral, I wholeheartedly recommend stopping by Leasowe Lighthouse on an open day. Better still, think about volunteering. You might discover, like Rose, that sharing these stories becomes its own kind of reward. You can reach out to their team via the Leasowe Lighthouse website.
Listen to the full interview
I’ve shared more from my conversation with Rose. Along with summer updates from Lighthouse Explorers trips across the UK and Ireland, in the latest podcast episode:
Lighthouse Explorers 