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{{Short description|Lighthouse in East Yorkshire, United Kingdom}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} |
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} |
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{{Use British English|date=May 2021}} |
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| marking = white tower and lantern |
| marking = white tower and lantern |
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| height = {{convert|39|m|ft|order=flip}} |
| height = {{convert|39|m|ft|order=flip}} |
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| managingagent = Withernsea Lighthouse Museum <ref>{{cite rowlett|enge| |
| managingagent = Withernsea Lighthouse Museum <ref>{{cite rowlett|enge|access-date=27 April 2016}}</ref> |
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| heritage = [[Grade II listed building]]<ref name="NHLE"/> |
| heritage = [[Grade II listed building]]<ref name="NHLE"/> |
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'''Withernsea Lighthouse''' is an inland [[lighthouse]] that stands in the middle of the town of [[Withernsea]] in the [[East Riding of Yorkshire]], |
'''Withernsea Lighthouse''' is an inland [[lighthouse]] that stands in the middle of the town of [[Withernsea]] in the [[East Riding of Yorkshire]], England. The lighthouse stands 127 feet (38 m) high and took 18 months to build between 1892 and 1894.<ref name="WLMabout" /> Formerly owned and run by [[Trinity House]] of London, it ceased operation on 1 July 1976 and is now used as a museum. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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The lighthouse is |
The lighthouse is distanced nearly {{convert|1/4|mi|m|abbr=off|disp=or}} from the sea front. At the time it was built, there was nothing between it and the sea but sand dunes, and fear of [[coastal erosion]] led to it being positioned well back.<ref name=Jones /> The lantern atop the tower and the [[Fresnel lens]] optic within it both came 'second-hand' from the old North Lighthouse at [[Whitby Lighthouse|High Whitby]],<ref name="MMF1896">{{cite book |title=Mercantile Marine Fund: Minutes of Evidence Taken Before the Committee of Inquiry appointed by the President of the Board of Trade |date=1896 |publisher=HMSO |location=London |page=281}}</ref> which had been decommissioned shortly before the building work at Withernsea began. |
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Initially, the light was provided by an eight-wick paraffin lamp, which was set within the fixed [[First order Fresnel lens|first-order]] [[Catadioptric system|catadioptric]] optic (which had been designed and manufactured by [[Chance Brothers]] in 1858). It was an [[occulting light]], the lamp being eclipsed three times in quick succession every minute;<ref>[https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/26487/page/1091 London Gazette, Issue 26487, Page 1091, 20 February 1894.]</ref> the occulting mechanism was clockwork. A [[Mantle lamp|petroleum vapour lamp]] was introduced in the early 20th century;<ref name="MilesRichardson1911">{{cite book |last1=Miles |first1=George T. J. |last2=Richardson |first2=William |title=A History of Withernsea |date=1911 |publisher=A. Brown & Sons |location=Hull |page=38}}</ref> the triple-occulting arrangement remained in place until 1936.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Talbot-Booth |first1=E. C. |title=A Cruising Companion: Ships and the Sea |date=1936 |publisher=D. Appleton-Century Company |location=New York & London |page=65}}</ref> |
Initially, the light was provided by an eight-wick paraffin lamp, which was set within the fixed [[First order Fresnel lens|first-order]] [[Catadioptric system|catadioptric]] optic (which had been designed and manufactured by [[Chance Brothers]] in 1858). It was an [[occulting light]], the lamp being eclipsed three times in quick succession every minute;<ref>[https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/26487/page/1091 London Gazette, Issue 26487, Page 1091, 20 February 1894.]</ref> the occulting mechanism was clockwork. A [[Mantle lamp|petroleum vapour lamp]] was introduced in the early 20th century;<ref name="MilesRichardson1911">{{cite book |last1=Miles |first1=George T. J. |last2=Richardson |first2=William |title=A History of Withernsea |date=1911 |publisher=A. Brown & Sons |location=Hull |page=38}}</ref> the triple-occulting arrangement remained in place until 1936.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Talbot-Booth |first1=E. C. |title=A Cruising Companion: Ships and the Sea |date=1936 |publisher=D. Appleton-Century Company |location=New York & London |page=65}}</ref> |
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In 1936 the light was electrified: it was given a 100 volt, 1500 watt bulb set within an eight-sided revolving [[third order Fresnel lens]] array, which displayed a white flash every three seconds with a range of {{convert|17|nmi|abbr= |
In 1936 the light was electrified: it was given a 100 volt, 1500 watt bulb set within an eight-sided revolving [[third order Fresnel lens]] array, which displayed a white flash every three seconds with a range of {{convert|17|nmi|abbr=}}.<ref name="WLMabout">{{cite web |title=About The Lighthouse |url=https://www.withernsealighthouse.co.uk/about-the-lighthouse/ |website=Withernsea Lighthouse Museum |access-date=11 September 2019 |archive-date=25 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425013828/http://www.withernsealighthouse.co.uk/about-the-lighthouse/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Withernsea was the first lighthouse in the North of England to be converted from oil to electricity. It ran off [[mains electricity]], but if the main lamp failed an [[automatic lamp changer]] brought a battery-powered lamp into action.<ref>{{cite journal |title=News in Brief: Electric Lighthouse |journal=The Electrical Journal |date=24 January 1936 |volume=116 |page=99}}</ref> This arrangement, provided by the [[Chloride Electrical Storage Company]], was said to be 'the first electrical emergency lighting system to be adopted by Trinity House for a lighthouse'.<ref>{{cite journal |title=News in Brief: Lighthouse Emergency Lighting |journal=The Electrician |date=7 February 1936 |volume=116 |page=189}}</ref> A similar system was installed at [[Lowestoft Lighthouse|Lowestoft]] two years later, and subsequently it was widely adopted across the service. |
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The lens weighed two tons and floated in a mercury bath; it was turned by clockwork. The lighting system, lens and clockwork mechanism remained in use into the 1970s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Withernsea (photographed in 1974) |url=http://www.england.pharology.eu/Withernsea.html |website=Lighthouses of England |access-date=11 September 2019}}</ref> Before decommissioning in 1976, the lighthouse was operated as a 'man-and-wife station', run by a couple who were accommodated in the adjacent cottage.<ref name="Jackson1975">{{cite book |last1=Jackson |first1=Derrick |title=Lighthouses of England and Wales |date=1975 |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbott, Devon |page=105}}</ref> |
The lens weighed two tons and floated in a mercury bath; it was turned by clockwork. The lighting system, lens and clockwork mechanism remained in use into the 1970s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Withernsea (photographed in 1974) |url=http://www.england.pharology.eu/Withernsea.html |website=Lighthouses of England |access-date=11 September 2019 |archive-date=18 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518000125/http://england.pharology.eu/Withernsea.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Before decommissioning in 1976, the lighthouse was operated as a 'man-and-wife station', run by a couple who were accommodated in the adjacent cottage.<ref name="Jackson1975">{{cite book |last1=Jackson |first1=Derrick |title=Lighthouses of England and Wales |date=1975 |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbott, Devon |page=105}}</ref> |
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==Lighthouse today== |
==Lighthouse today== |
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The base of the lighthouse features [[RNLI]] and [[HM Coastguard]] exhibits, with models and old photographs. These record the history of ship-wrecks in the area and detail the Withernsea lifeboats and crews who saved 87 lives between 1862 and 1913. It also depicts the history of the nearby [[Spurn]] lifeboats. |
The base of the lighthouse features [[RNLI]] and [[HM Coastguard]] exhibits, with models and old photographs. These record the history of ship-wrecks in the area and detail the Withernsea lifeboats and crews who saved 87 lives between 1862 and 1913. It also depicts the history of the nearby [[Spurn]] lifeboats. |
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The [[local history]] room has [[Victorian era|Victorian]] and [[Edwardian]] photos of the town including the pier and railway. |
The [[local history]] room has [[Victorian era|Victorian]] and [[Edwardian]] photos of the town including the pier and railway. There is a [[Kay Kendall]] memorial to the 1950s film star, who was born in the town. |
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The lighthouse has [[Antenna (radio)|antennae]] attached used to provide local [[mobile phone]] coverage.<ref>[https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/withernsea-suffering-phone-signal-woes-5401953 Withernsea suffering phone signal woes during lighthouse repainting] ''[[Hull Daily Mail|Hull Live]]'', 12 May 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-67096437 Withernsea businesses complain of lost trade over phone mast work] ''[[BBC News]]'', 13 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.</ref> |
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There is a [[Kay Kendall]] memorial to the 1950s film star, who was born in the town. |
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Views from the lamp room in the Withernsea Lighthouse are |
Views from the lamp room in the Withernsea Lighthouse are available to visitors after climbing the 144 steps. There is no lamp, as this was removed after closure and sent to [[St Mary's Lighthouse]] in [[Tyne and Wear]] where it can still be seen to this day.<ref name=Jones>{{cite book|last1=Jones|first1=Robin|title=Lighthouses of the North East Coast|date=2014|publisher=Halsgrove|location=Wellington, Somerset}}</ref> |
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The lighthouse and adjoining lighthouse keepers' houses are |
The lighthouse and adjoining lighthouse keepers' houses are [[Grade II listed building]]s.<ref name="NHLE">{{NHLE|num=1083470|desc=Withernsea Lighthouse and adjoining pair of lighthouse keepers cottages|access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> |
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==Gallery== |
==Gallery== |
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|Image:Whitley Bay, the light in St. Mary’s lighthouse - geograph.org.uk - 2556351.jpg|The old Withernsea optic (now in St Mary's lighthouse, [[Whitley Bay]]) |
|Image:Whitley Bay, the light in St. Mary’s lighthouse - geograph.org.uk - 2556351.jpg|The old Withernsea optic (now in St Mary's lighthouse, [[Whitley Bay]]) |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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{{stack|{{Portal|Yorkshire|Engineering}}}} |
{{stack|{{Portal|Yorkshire|Engineering}}}} |
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Latest revision as of 21:32, 17 October 2023
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| Location | Withernsea East Riding of Yorkshire England |
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| OS grid | TA3393327967 |
| Coordinates | 53°43′51″N 0°01′44″E / 53.730953°N 0.028751°E |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1894 |
| Construction | brick tower |
| Height | 128 feet (39 m) |
| Shape | tapered octagonal prism with balcony and lantern |
| Markings | white tower and lantern |
| Operator | Withernsea Lighthouse Museum [1] |
| Heritage | Grade II listed building[2] |
| Light | |
| Deactivated | 1976 |
Withernsea Lighthouse is an inland lighthouse that stands in the middle of the town of Withernsea in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The lighthouse stands 127 feet (38 m) high and took 18 months to build between 1892 and 1894.[3] Formerly owned and run by Trinity House of London, it ceased operation on 1 July 1976 and is now used as a museum.
History
[edit]The lighthouse is distanced nearly 1⁄4 mile or 400 metres from the sea front. At the time it was built, there was nothing between it and the sea but sand dunes, and fear of coastal erosion led to it being positioned well back.[4] The lantern atop the tower and the Fresnel lens optic within it both came 'second-hand' from the old North Lighthouse at High Whitby,[5] which had been decommissioned shortly before the building work at Withernsea began.
Initially, the light was provided by an eight-wick paraffin lamp, which was set within the fixed first-order catadioptric optic (which had been designed and manufactured by Chance Brothers in 1858). It was an occulting light, the lamp being eclipsed three times in quick succession every minute;[6] the occulting mechanism was clockwork. A petroleum vapour lamp was introduced in the early 20th century;[7] the triple-occulting arrangement remained in place until 1936.[8]
In 1936 the light was electrified: it was given a 100 volt, 1500 watt bulb set within an eight-sided revolving third order Fresnel lens array, which displayed a white flash every three seconds with a range of 17 nautical miles (31 km; 20 mi).[3] Withernsea was the first lighthouse in the North of England to be converted from oil to electricity. It ran off mains electricity, but if the main lamp failed an automatic lamp changer brought a battery-powered lamp into action.[9] This arrangement, provided by the Chloride Electrical Storage Company, was said to be 'the first electrical emergency lighting system to be adopted by Trinity House for a lighthouse'.[10] A similar system was installed at Lowestoft two years later, and subsequently it was widely adopted across the service.
The lens weighed two tons and floated in a mercury bath; it was turned by clockwork. The lighting system, lens and clockwork mechanism remained in use into the 1970s.[11] Before decommissioning in 1976, the lighthouse was operated as a 'man-and-wife station', run by a couple who were accommodated in the adjacent cottage.[12]
Lighthouse today
[edit]The base of the lighthouse features RNLI and HM Coastguard exhibits, with models and old photographs. These record the history of ship-wrecks in the area and detail the Withernsea lifeboats and crews who saved 87 lives between 1862 and 1913. It also depicts the history of the nearby Spurn lifeboats.
The local history room has Victorian and Edwardian photos of the town including the pier and railway. There is a Kay Kendall memorial to the 1950s film star, who was born in the town.
The lighthouse has antennae attached used to provide local mobile phone coverage.[13][14]
Views from the lamp room in the Withernsea Lighthouse are available to visitors after climbing the 144 steps. There is no lamp, as this was removed after closure and sent to St Mary's Lighthouse in Tyne and Wear where it can still be seen to this day.[4]
The lighthouse and adjoining lighthouse keepers' houses are Grade II listed buildings.[2]
Gallery
[edit]-
As seen from the street -
Garden view of the lighthouse and keepers' cottage -
Steps inside the lighthouse -
The view from the top -
Trinity House plaque on the tower -
The old Withernsea optic (now in St Mary's lighthouse, Whitley Bay)
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Eastern England". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ^ a b Historic England. "Withernsea Lighthouse and adjoining pair of lighthouse keepers cottages (1083470)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
- ^ a b "About The Lighthouse". Withernsea Lighthouse Museum. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
- ^ a b Jones, Robin (2014). Lighthouses of the North East Coast. Wellington, Somerset: Halsgrove.
- ^ Mercantile Marine Fund: Minutes of Evidence Taken Before the Committee of Inquiry appointed by the President of the Board of Trade. London: HMSO. 1896. p. 281.
- ^ London Gazette, Issue 26487, Page 1091, 20 February 1894.
- ^ Miles, George T. J.; Richardson, William (1911). A History of Withernsea. Hull: A. Brown & Sons. p. 38.
- ^ Talbot-Booth, E. C. (1936). A Cruising Companion: Ships and the Sea. New York & London: D. Appleton-Century Company. p. 65.
- ^ "News in Brief: Electric Lighthouse". The Electrical Journal. 116: 99. 24 January 1936.
- ^ "News in Brief: Lighthouse Emergency Lighting". The Electrician. 116: 189. 7 February 1936.
- ^ "Withernsea (photographed in 1974)". Lighthouses of England. Archived from the original on 18 May 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
- ^ Jackson, Derrick (1975). Lighthouses of England and Wales. Newton Abbott, Devon: David & Charles. p. 105.
- ^ Withernsea suffering phone signal woes during lighthouse repainting Hull Live, 12 May 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- ^ Withernsea businesses complain of lost trade over phone mast work BBC News, 13 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Withernsea Lighthouse.
- Withernsea Lighthouse
- BBC Humber article by Dale Baxter
- Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1083470)". National Heritage List for England.
| Authority control databases: Geographic |
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