Southport Gas Holder was once the tallest structure in the northern town of Southport, England for 40 years. The 84.5 m (277 ft) high structure could be seen from miles around, for example from Blackpool and Winter Hill. To some people of the local area it was an instantly recognisable symbol of home coming after being away for weeks. It was built in 1969 in the Blowick area of Southport (1.7 miles from the town centre) – grid reference SD362167. It acted as a storage unit guaranteeing the town's gas supply. Similar structures were built across the country when town gas was generated from coal and before the construction of a high pressure gas grid.