Happisburgh Lighthouse, Norfolk, UK

Happisburgh Lighthouse A2336, Norfolk UK

Latitude: 52°49.2'N
Longitude: 1°32.3'E
Height: of tower: 26 meters
Elevation: 41 m
Character: FL (3) W 30s
Range: 14 M

We tried to visit this light in September 2004, but sadly it was closed to the public on this particular day! Now they have a wonderful team of volunteers, which allows them to open the lighthouse more often!!!

The lighthouse was built as one of a pair (the other has been demolished) in 1790. This lighthouse, when it was to be discontinued, was saved by the local community. It is now operated and maintained entirely by voluntary contributions.

There is more information here: http://www.happisburgh.org/lighthouse

South Pier Lighthouse Gorleston on Sea, Norfolk, UK

South Pier Lighthouse Gorleston on Sea A2304, Norfolk, UK


Latitude: 52°34.3'N
Longtitude: 1°44.3'E
Height: of tower: 11 meters
Character: FL R 3s
Range: 11 M
Fog Signal: Horn (3)60s

We took this picture of the brick tower in September 2004. The lighthouse was built in 1878 and is now not active any longer.

Godrevy Island Lighthouse A5654

Godrevy Island Lighthouse, Cornwall, UK

Lat./Long:	50º14.5'N, 5º23.9'E
Character:	Fl WR 10s
Height of tower:	26 m
Elevation:	37 m
Visible:	W 12 M, R 9 M
Other lights:	4 FR (vert) shown on radio mast 6.5M ESE
First lit:	1st March 1859

The island on which this lighthouse stands is situated at St. Ives Bay in Cornwall. Today it guides fishermen and yachtsmen into St. Ives and helps them to avoid a dangerous reef called the Stones.

This lighthouse was the inspiration for Virginia Wolfe's "To the Lighthouse"

Trinity House appointed James Walker to build the station in 1859 at a cost of £7,082. The white octagonal tower was built from rubble stone bedded in mortar, and is sited together with its adjoining keepers' cottages almost in the center of the largest of the rocks. The station was also equipped with a 3 cwt bell as a Fog signal, and this was struck once every 5 seconds.

In 1939 the station received a new second order fixed catadioptric lens and the station was automated. The fog bell was removed then.   In 1995 further modernization followed and the station was converted to solar power. The lighthouse is now monitored and controlled from the Trinity House Operations Control Centre at Harwich in Essex.

Recently (2005) Trinity House had decided to de-activate the station. But following this decision was reversed after it was proved that the light is invaluable to the local fishermen and the yachtsmen sailing in the area.
 

This is one of the lighthouses we photographed while we were on honeymoon in Cornwall in 2002. Sadly we could not visit this station and had to take these pictures from the mainland.

Flat Holm Lighthouse Bristol Channel UK

Flat Holm Lighthouse Bristol Channel UK


Latitude 51 Deg 22.5 Min N
Longitude 3 Deg 7 Min W

Established 1737, 1839
Height of tower 30 meters
Elevation 50 meters
Character Fl (3) WR 10s
Range W 15 M; R 12 M
Fog signal Siren 30s


. . Old Post Card of the Flatholme Lighthouse

Flatholm is an Island in the shipping lane in the Bristol Channel, where it meets the River Severn. In 1733 Trinity House was petitioned for a light, after the Merchant Venturers in Bristol had been discussing the possibility for a light for this busy shipping lane.
A coal fired light was specified. A tower was built and a fire lit. The quality of the light gave rise to complaints frequently. As a result Trinity House agreed to rebuild and maintain the light until the expiry of the lease. They raised the tower, fitted Argand burners and reflectors in 1820. In 1969 the station was electrified after numerous improvements over the years.

Fishgard Breakwater Lighthouses

Fishgard Breakwater Lighthouses

Northern Breakwater		East Breakwater Head
Lat. / Long.:	52°00.7'N; 4°58.1'W	Lat. / Long.:	52°00.7'N; 4°58.8'W
Description:	Eight sided concrete tower	Description:	Metal framework tower
Location:	Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK	Location:	Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK
Character:	Fl G 4.5s	Character:	Fl R 3s
Tower Height:	14 m	Tower Height:	14 m
Elevation:	18 m	Elevation:	18 m
Visible:	13	Visible:	5
First lit:	1905	First lit:
Admiralty List of Lights Number:	A5262	Admiralty List of Lights Number:	A5264

Most people walk the northern breakwater, so we decided to be different and walked the east one. It was on a windy day and we took this picture with our old digital camera. But we still thought we'd show it. You'd get the best view from the ferries which leave Fishgard on their way to Ireland.

Egypt Point Lighthouse A0572, Isle of Wight UK

    Egypt Point Lighthouse A0572,  
    Isle of Wight UK

    Latitude 50 Deg 46 Min N
    Longitude 1 Deg 18.7 Min W

    Established 1897

    Height of tower 7 meters

    Elevation 8 meters

    Character Fl W 10s

    Range 18 M

This light is situated at Egypt Point near the entrance to Cowes Harbour. The light was discontinued in 1989 and was handed over to the Local Authority in 1997 to be maintained as a landmark. 








The lantern now stands by the entrance of the Trinity House Lighthouse Museum in Penzance. We took the picture to prove it in September 2004

21/01/2015
I am not sure where the lantern is now ... maybe in the Museum at Hurst Castle ?

St. Catherine's Point A0774 - Isle of Wight, UK

 St. Catherine's Point A0774 - Isle of Wight, UK
 Latitude 50 Deg 35.5 Min N
Longitude 1 Deg 17.8 Min W
Station established c.1323
Height of tower 26 meters
Elevation 41 m
Character Fl W 5s
Range 26 M









This is the lighthouse in 2000  from the seaward side and from the land side

       

The current lighthouse was designed by James Walker. The lighthouse was built of ashlar stone with dressed quoins and was carried up from a base plinth as a 3 tier octagon, diminishing by stages

It was first lit in March 1840.

The elevation of the light proved to be too high, as the lantern frequently became shrouded in fog. 1875 it was decided to lower the light 13 metres by taking about 6 metres out of the uppermost section of the tower and about 7 metres out of the middle tier, which destroyed its beauty and made it appear squat and mis-proportioned.

A fog signal was installed in a separate building in a separate building on the cliff edge in 1868. It was driven by a coke-fired caloric hot-air engine and an additional keeper was needed to run the fog signal.

In 1888 the station was converted to electric and the fog signal replaced by a siren.










By 1932 the fog signal building was so threatened by erosion that is had to be removed. A smaller copy of the main lighthouse was built in front to house the new fog signal. The locals promptly christened this new pair of towers "Cow and Calf". The lighthouse was automated in 1997

Today the lighthouse is open to the public and you can stay in the keeper's cottages for your holidays!

The lens is a 2nd Order 4 Panel Catadioptric and VERY impressive! It is lit by 2 X 400 W Mbi Lamp

To the west and 7 metres below the main light a fixed red light warns mariners about the Atherfield Ledge.

They even have a spare lens for this red light.

Cromer Lighthouse, Norfolk, England A2342

Cromer Lighthouse, Norfolk, England A2342

Lat./Long:	52°55.5'N;1°19.1'E
Character:	Fl W 5s
Height of tower:	18 m
Elevation:	84 m
Visible:	23 M
First lit:	1680 (Present Tower 1833)
Automated	1990

The light on this eight sided tower is shown 24 hrs a day.

Sir John Clayton obtained a patent and built a lighthouse here in 1669. He was to charge light dues from the passing vessels. But due to high maintenance and the reluctance of the ship owners to pay up,  so Clayton could not afford to kindle fires in the tower at Cromer.

Still the tower was used as a beacon and listed in 1680 sea charts as "a lighthouse but no fire kept in it". Some time in between this an 1792, when Trinity House had possession of the station, a coal fire was shown here.

When Trinity House took over, they fitted a flashing light, reflectors and oil lamps on a revolving frame. This resulted in a very rapidly flashing light. This lighthouse was destroyed in a land slip in 1866.

The present lighthouse was built in 1833, well away from the cliff and electrified in 1958.
 

We took the photographs, when we spent a pleasant week in Norfolk in September 2004. It seems to stand right in the middle of a golf course.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 This is a lovely picture of the light station taken from a letter card sold by the ALK- shame we don't know the artist.

Lighthouses in Burnham on Sea, Bristol Channel, UK

 

Lighthouses in Burnham on Sea, Bristol Channel, UK 

.
Burnham Front Light, A5570	Burnham Rear Light
Latitude 51 deg 14.9 min N	.
Longitude 3 deg 0.3 min W	.
Height of tower 9 meters	Height of tower 30 m
Elevation 7 meters	Elevation 27 meters
Character Fl W 7.5s	Occ W 7.5s
Range 9 M	Range 17 M

The Rev. David Davies was granted a lease for a permanent light in Burnham on Sea, in the early nineteenth century. This was a lucrative enterprise. The dues were five shillings for British ships, ten for foreign ones and three shillings for coastal vessels. And the port of Bridgwater, a little further up the river, was getting increasingly busy.
In 1829 Trinity House bought the lease. Three years on a pair of leading lights was built to guide ships into the river Parrett.
The rear light is now a private residence and not open to the public, while the low light, though not actually open, can easily be seen on the beach.

Brixham Breakwater Lighthouse

     

Brixham Breakwater Lighthouse

Lat. / Long.:	50°24.3'N 3°30.7'W
Description:	Round cast iron white tower with lantern and gallery
Location:	Brixham Harbour, Devon, UK
Character:	OC R 15s
Tower Height:	6 m
Elevation:	9 m
Visible:	3 M
First lit:	1878 station established,  this lighthouse approx. 1916
Admiralty List of Lights Number:	A0246

On the same rainy, stormy day in December 2003, when we visited the Berry Head Lighthouse, we also saw the light on the breakwater at Brixham Harbour. We walked out to the end of the breakwater, despite the wet weather.

The closer we got, the easier it was to see the rust on the little white tower.





 

Berry Head Lighthouse A0244, Devon, UK

Berry Head Lighthouse A0244 - Devon, UK

Lat./Long: 50°24.0’N; 3°28.9’W 

Character: Fl (2) W 15s

Height of tower: 5 m

Elevation: 58 m

Visible: 14 M

Optic: 500mm Third Order

On a very rainy day in December 2003 an intrepid group from the ALK decided to meet and visit the lighthouse at Berry Head. The weather was wet and windy, but we walked up to this very unusual little lighthouse.




The building in the background is the coast guard station, which you have to pass to reach the lighthouse. This is the smallest lighthouse in England and it stands atop limestone cliffs. It is also the deepest lighthouse in the British Isles. Originally the optic was turned by a weight driven mechanism. The weights dropped 45 m down a shaft.  The lighthouse was built in 1906 and automated in 1921. The station was converted to mains electricity in 1994.




Close up of the lens.

Joy Adcock kindly sent us this photograph of the intrepid lighthouse fans who braved the wind and the rain to visit this little light! It was wet and cold, but we had fun!

Black Nore Point A5482 - Bristol Channel, UK

 Black Nore Point A5482 - Bristol Channel, UK


Latitude 51 Deg 29.1 Min N
Longitude 2 Deg 48 Min W

Established 1894

Height of tower 11 meters

Elevation 11 meters

Character Fl (2) W 10s

Range 15 M

This is a minor light on the coast of the Upper Bristol Channel near the town of Portishead. It was built as an aid to navigation of shipping in and out of the River Avon. The light was converted to electric and automated in 1941 and further modernised in 2000. It is now controlled form Harwich.

Early in 2011 the light was discontinued. The Blacknore Lighthouse Trust was formed and the ownership of the lighthouse was transferred to this trust in January 2012. The trust is a community group of enthusiasts who want to make sure the lighthouse is preserved for the future!

Sadly the lens was removed from the tower. But there is a hope that it may be returned!
August 2012 - the great news is that the lens/optic is back at the lighthouse! Thank you to the Blacknore Lighthouse Trust and Trinity House for making this possible!

On the 16th of August 2014 the light was active for celebration purposes only and the following variation was published:

MARINERS ARE ADVISED that the disused lighthouse at Black Nore Point (Latitude 51° 29.09’N, Longitude 002°48.04’W – (WGS84 datum)) will be lit temporarily for demonstration purposes on Saturday 16th August 2014 between the hours of 1000 and 2100 BST.

During these times the light will flash twice every ten seconds (Fl(2)W 10s).

Jerry Stanford
Haven Master
Marine Department
Avonmouth Docks

11th August 2014

Avonmouth Pier Head Lights, Bristol Channel, UK

Avonmouth Pier Head Lights, Bristol Channel, UK
.
South Pier Head A5492.1	North Pier Head A5492
Latitude 51 deg 30.4 min N	Latitude 51 deg 30.5 min N
Longitude 2 deg 43 min W	Longitude 2 deg 43 min W
.
Height of tower 9 meters	Height of tower 16 meters
Elevation 9 meters	Elevation 15 meters
Character Oc RG 30s	Character Fl W 4s
Range 10 M	Range 10 M

Both of these lighthouses were built in 1907-1908 from Norwegian Granite.
We first saw these lights on 12th March 2001. This is the story about how:
Monday morning, it is spring and the sun is shining. What better day to go and visit a lighthouse we have not seen as yet. For a while we had been contemplating getting some pictures of the two lighthouses in the Avonmouth Docks. The trouble was, we knew the lights were on private grounds as the docks belong to the Bristol Port Company.
So after a few phone calls and a conversation with a very nice Pilot called Ken - we got to talk to Captain John Morgan of the Marine Department of the Bristol Port Company.
He very kindly invited us to come and visit him at any time. "I can see them out of my window" he said. "Can we come now?" we asked and he agreed to arrange the required hard hats and high-visibility jackets for us. So we hotfooted it up the M5 there and then. The staff at the Marine Department were very kind and helpful. We were allowed to walk down both piers and take as many pictures as we liked. Even the sun was reasonably kind to us and you can see a couple of the resulting pictures above.
On the 20th of March 2004 we went back to visit these two lights. This time with the "Association of Lighthouse Keepers" as part of the regular meetings of the South West Region Group.
Again the Bristol Port Company were very friendly and helpful! Stan and I had undertaken to organise this visit for the ALK and we were grateful to Captain Morgan!

Sadly this time the weather was not so co-operative.
It blew a gale and we decided it was too risky to walk out to the North Pier Light! But a good time was had regardless and everyone co-operated with the need for the protective clothing. On the right you can see the brave visitors suitably dressed and walking up to the South Pier Light.













Mike Millichamp from the ALK kindly gave us this picture post card of the North Pier Light station, with the Keepers Hut still in place! It is hard to imagine where the hut was. There must have been a lot of changes to the size and shape of the pier.

Anvil Point A0496 - South Coast, UK

Anvil Point A0496 - South Coast, UK
 

Lat./Long:	50°35.48'N;1°57.52'W
Character:	Fl W 10s
Height of tower:	12 m
Elevation:	45 m
Visible:	19 M
First lit:	1881

       

  The old fog horn building 
 

The station was built to a design by James Douglas. It was converted to electricity in 1900 and it's large optic donated to the Science Museum in London. The station received a smaller optic instead. The fog signal, which was an old carronade, was replaced by an electric emitter. It in turn was discontinued in 1988. The lighthouse was fully automated and the last keeper left on the 31st of May 1991.
 

This is a lovely picture of the light station taken from a letter card sold by the ALK- shame we don't know the artist

... and it begins ... our light shines I hope

This is St. Catherine's Lighthouse on the Isle of Wight, UK and Stan's favourite lighthouse

and this is Point Loma in San Diego, CA, USA and my favourite lighthouse. 

Both will be the title pictures for my new blog. I want to introduce "our" lighthouses!

We have seen all the lights I am going to show here and we love them all. 

Keep coming back, I can't promise how quickly this will be done, but I can promise:

I will work on it! 

And there will be the odd "pretend lighthouse" too, when I had or have fun with it! 

Like this one - Stan's birthday present for 2014 in our garden