Beachy Head Lighthouse

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Beachy Head Lighthouse

Sussex

Beachy Head lighthouse.jpg
The lighthouse from sea level
Location
Grid reference: TV582950
Location: 50°44’2"N, 0°14’29"E
Characteristics
Height: 140 feet
Tower shape: tapered cylindrical
with balcony and lantern
Tower marking: White tower with a broad horizontal
red band, red lantern
Light: Fl (2) W 20s.
Focal height: 120 feet
Range: 8 nautical miles
Admiralty No.: A0840
History
Built 1902
Information
Owned by: Trinity House

Beachy Head Lighthouse stands in the sea below Beachy Head, where the South Downs meet the sea on the coast of Sussex. The lighthouse stands 140 feet high and became operational in October 1902.[1]

Construction

In 1900 to 1902, under the direction of Sir Thomas Matthews, the Trinity House Engineer-in-Chief, the lighthouse was built, sited about 180 yards seaward of the base of the cliffs. For the construction, a temporary cable car from the cliff has been installed for the transport of workers and stones to an iron ocean platform adjacent to the lighthouse. 3,660 tons of Cornish granite were used in the construction of the tower.

Operation

For more than 80 years, the red-and-white striped tower was manned by three lighthouse keepers. Their job was to maintain the light, which rotates, making two white flashes every 20 seconds. It was then visible 26 nautical miles out to sea. The lighthouse was fully automated in 1983 and the keepers withdrawn.

In June 2010, Trinity House announced in the five yearly "Aids To Navigation Review" that the light range would be reduced to 8 nautical miles and the fog signal discontinued. In February 2011, the work was undertaken and light range reduced by the installation of a new LED navigation light system. The old lens, though no longer in use, was left in situ. The fog signal was also discontinued at this time.

Trinity House announced in 2011 that it could no longer afford to repaint the distinctive red and white stripes and that it would have to be left to return to its natural granite gray. It stated that because boats now have high tech navigational systems the day marker stripes are no longer essential. However, a sponsored campaign to keep the stripes was launched in October 2011. The required £27,000 was raised.[2] The tower repainting was completed in October using a team including two abseilers. Five coats of paint were applied to the copper lantern at the top and three on each hoop of the tower.[3]

Pictures

  • The cliffs and lighthouse from the west near Birling Gap

  • Temporary cable car for the construction of the lighthouse

  • The lighthouse from sea side

  • The lighthouse from the east side

Outside links

Commons-logo.svg
 ("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Beachy Head Lighthouse)

References

  1. ↑ Surtees, Dr John (1997). Beachy Head. Seaford: SB Publications. ISBN 1-85770-118-6. 
  2. ↑ Beachy Head Lighthouse Campaign
  3. ↑ Beachy Head lighthouse repainting 'finishing touches' - BBC
Lighthouses of Trinity House

Great Britain:
Anvil Point • Bamburgh • Bardsey • Beachy Head • Berry Head • Bishop Rock • Bull Point • Caldey Island • Coquet • Cromer • Crow Point • Dungeness • Eddystone • Farne • Flamborough • Flatholm • Godrevy • Hartland Point • Hilbre Island • Holyhead • Hurst Point • Guile Point East • Heugh Hill • Lizard • Longships • Longstone • Lowestoft • Lundy North • Lundy South • Lynmouth Foreland • Monkstone • Mumbles • Nab Tower • Nash Point • Needles • North Foreland • Pendeen • Peninnis • Point Lynas • Portland Bill • Round Island • Royal Sovereign • Skerries • Skokholm • Smalls • South Bishop • South Stack • Southwold • St Anthony's • St Bees • St Tudwal's • St Anns Head • St Catherines • Start Point • Strumble Head • Tater Du • Trevose Head • Trwyn Du • Whitby • Wolf Rock

Channel Islands and Gibraltar:

Casquets • Europa Point • Les Hanois • Sark

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