An elongate tower lifting apparatus including clamps for frictionally clamping to each leg of a tower, jacks for operably engaging and lifting the clamps and a jack control system for controlling the lifting and lowering of the tower. The clamps are connected by cross braces and include structure to snugly and nestingly engage a tower leg. A method is described using the lifting apparatus to lift a tower subsequent to loosening a nut restraining each tower leg to allow placement of a cushioning pad between a foot of each tower leg and a supporting concrete platform.