Click on the thumbnails below to expand cuttings from The News and other items describing the construction of the Millenium Spinnaker Tower at Gunwharf Quays, formerly HMS Vernon. Items from The News of Portsmouth are reproduced by kind permission of David Brown.
USEFUL LINKS
BBC Southampton Spinnaker Tower webcam
CJB Photography (for stunning aerial photographs of the Spinnaker Tower during its construction)
Portsmouth City Council Spinnaker Tower website & webcam
Nov 1998 - Gunwharf Quays Spinnaker Tower Questions & Answers.
16 May 2003 - Gunwharf Quays Spinnaker Tower starts to take shape.
29 May 2003 - Gunwharf Quays Spinnaker Tower reaches 377 feet.
3 June 2003 - Gunwharf Quays Spinnaker Tower inquiry.
25 June 2003 - Gunwharf Quays Spinnaker Tower reaches 407 feet.
28 June 2003 - View from the top of Gunwharf Quays Spinnaker Tower including part of old HMS Vernon (N.B. Vulcan Building).
24 July 2003 - Selection of operator for Gunwharf Quays Spinnaker Tower.
28 July 2003 - Gunwharf Quays Spinnaker Tower reaches 460 feet.
20 Aug 2003 - More Gunwharf Quays Spinnaker Tower controversy. N.B. They've started to paint it white, its eventual colour.
8 Sep 2003 - The Gunwharf Quays Spinnaker Tower saga continues.
16 Sep 2003 - 572 steps completed inside Gunwharf Quays Spinnaker Tower.
26 Sep 2003 - Picture of veteran paddle steamer Waverley passing Gunwharf Quays Spinnaker Tower.
14 Oct 2003 - View from the top of Gunwharf Quays Spinnaker Tower.
7 Nov 2003 - Key Stage of Spinnaker Tower on way.
13 Nov 2003 - Spinnaker Tower inquiry nears its end.
18 Nov 2003 - Arrival of crucial component for Spinnaker Tower.
19 Nov 2003 - Aerial View of Gunwharf Quays & Spinnaker Tower.
29 Nov 2003 - New Portsmouth CEO's bewilderment at Spinnaker Tower.
8 Dec 2003 - Paint peeling off Spinnaker Tower.
11 Dec 2003 - Image rights for Spinnaker Tower not owned by City Council.
22 Jan 2004 - Sail of Spinnaker Tower starts to take shape.
21 Feb 2004 - Photo showing Spinnaker Tower's resemblance to Navigation Mark.
28 Feb 2004 - Spinnaker Tower gets Smiley Face.
3 Mar 2004 - Base of sail being hoisted into place.
2 Apr 2004 - Further delay to opening of Tower.
17 Apr 2004 - Crack discovered in Spinnaker Tower.
31 May 2004 - World's largest single-masted yacht Mirabella V beside Spinnaker Tower.
19 June 2004 - More controversy over Spinnaker Tower's structure.
31 July 2004 - Spinnaker Tower concrete 'safe once repairs finished'.
23 August 2004 - Finish of Spinnaker Tower delayed further.
25 August 2004 - Hollows discovered in Spinnaker Tower concrete.
7 September 2004 - Author of damning report on Spinnaker Tower speaks out.
27 November 2004 - Stunning View from top of Spinnaker Tower.
15 January 2005 - Spinnaker Tower may not be ready for Trafalgar 200.
17 January 2005 - Spire lifted onto Spinnaker Tower.
22 February 2005 - Further Delay to Opening of Spinnaker Tower.
24 February 2005 - More Trouble for Spinnaker Tower.
22 April 2005 - Things Finally Looking Up for Spinnaker Tower.
16 June 2005 - Spinnaker Tower Lights Up.
2 July 2005 - Provisional Date Set for Opening of Spinnaker Tower (28 July 2005).
19 July 2005 - Lift Problems Cause Further Delay to Opening of Spinnaker Tower.
16 August 2005 - Still No Opening Date for Spinnaker Tower.
3 September 2005 - Spinnaker Tower Likely to Stay Closed over Winter.
14 September 2005 - Spinnaker Tower may open in October.
24 September 2005 - No Guarantees for October Opening of Spinnaker Tower.
30 September 2005 - Spinnaker Tower should open within next two weeks...
6 October 2005 - ...and then again, perhaps not. Passengers become stuck in Spinnaker Tower lift.
12 October 2005 - Builders hand Spinnaker Tower over to operators. Tower could open 20 October.
13 October 2005 - Spinnaker Tower to open at 1000 on Tuesday 18 October (2005).
18 October 2005 - Lift hitch as Spinnaker Tower finally opens.
7 December 2005 - Bill for Spinnaker Tower could reach £28 million.
9 October 2005 - Spinnaker Tower panoramic lift to be operational soon.
24 April 2006 - Spinnaker Tower glass lift to 'open within days'.
29 April 2006 - Spinnaker Tower panoramic lift 'must stay closed'.
4 July 2006 - Spinnaker Tower could close owing to continuing failure of panoramic lift.
7 July 2006 - Manufacturers of Spinnaker Tower's panoramic lift dismissed.
14 October 2006 - Panoramic lift may not be ready 'until next year'.
8 Jan 2007 - Panoramic lift ready for action
16 Mar 2007 - New panoramic lift delay
8 Feb 2008 - Panoramic lift open but you can't use it
