The beacon at Greygarth was lit at 5.30 p.m. on 31^st December 1999. Many welcomed the new Millennium by coming to see our local beacon and watching fireworks donated by the Parish Council. The path up to the beacon was lit by flaming torches, so it was an event to remember. Refreshments were served afterwards in the chapel. Here are some photos of the event.

The year 2000 was signalled by a chain of beacons across the country, a Christian symbol of hope for the future, drawn from Britain’s rich past and much used throughout our history. Our parish’s Millennium Beacon was built adjacent to the Greygarth Monument, Dallowgill, which was rebuilt in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. It is on the site of a much earlier tower that was destroyed in a violent storm in 1890. The beacon fires have been lit on the site several times in the last century on notable occasions, especially when there has been a chain of beacons lit throughout the UK; for example on Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee in 1977, and 50 years after celebrating Victory in Japan in 1995.

The Beacon Millennium Project was designed to unite our entire country by co-ordinating the lighting of beacons, so that our community celebrations would be linked with those across the UK as well as in at least 40 other countries.

The logos below were drawn by Margaret Crosfield for the Millennium Committee. They are designed to illustrate the three parts of our parish. Kirkby Malzeard is symbolised by the butter cross and sword dance, Laverton by the pump, and Dallowgill by the Greygarth Monument.