Beacon tower linked to Spanish Armada moving closer to restoration
A beacon tower which has links to the Spanish Armada is moving closer to restoration.
Sedgley's crumbling Beacon Tower is awaiting funds from the Heritage Lottery Fund for restoration work to begin.
Campaigners failed with a bid of more than £1million in 2018 but they are "very close" to submitting a second bid.
Sedgley ward councillor Michael Evans said: "We are very close to putting the application in. We are quite confident of being successful this time around."
The tower is iconic to Sedgley and is featured on the town's flag. It also gave name to the Beacon Hotel just down the road.
The current tower was built in 1846 but one previously stood there since the 1580s. Historians believe the original tower was lit during the Spanish Armada to warn the surrounding population of the incoming fleet.
The current tower was lit in 1977 for Queen Elizabeth ll’s Silver Jubilee. However in the decades since, the tower has crumbled away with many of its step missing.
Campaigners want to restore the entire structure so people will be able to access the site once again. It is currently fenced off.
