 The ground breaking happened on 22 June 1896 , before the formation of the new company , completion of land purchase and announcement of contracts on 26 July 1896 . The construction of the steel lattice tower started in July 1897 and was completed some time between 1898 and 1900 , 10 years after the Blackpool Tower had been finished . The grounds were opened before then for a short period in 1897 however . New Brighton Tower was the tallest building in England , standing 567 feet ( 173 m ) tall , and 621 feet ( 189 m ) above sea @-@ level . A total of 1000 tons ( 1 @,@ 016 @,@ 047 kg ) of mild or low @-@ carbon steel was used , at a cost of £ 120 @,@ 000 , in contrast to the earlier Blackpool and Eiffel towers , both constructed using wrought iron . The building below the New Brighton Tower , which was to contain the ballroom , was constructed by Peters and Sons of Rochdale . It was a four @-@ storey red @-@ brick building with arched windows and hexagonal , copper @-@ domed turrets . 
