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Gunfleet Lighthouse: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 51°46′08″N 1°20′30″E / 51.76889°N 1.34167°E / 51.76889; 1.34167
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'''Gunfleet Lighthouse''' is a [[screw-pile lighthouse]] lying in the [[North Sea]], six miles off the coast at [[Frinton-on-Sea]] in [[Essex]] constructed in 1850 by [[James Walker (engineer)|James Walker]] of [[Trinity House]]. [[George Henry Saunders]] was the contractor. Walker and Burges were the Engineers.<ref name=Grace>{{cite web|url=http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Gunfleet_Lighthouse|title=Gunfleet Lighthouse| website =Grace's Guide to British Industrial History|access-date=2016-12-20}}</ref> It is {{convert|74|ft}} in height and hexagonal in plan; mounted on seven piles forming a steel lattice and originally painted red. The living accommodation comprises a living room, bedroom, kitchen/washroom and storeroom.<ref name=mycetes>
'''Gunfleet Lighthouse''' is a derelict [[screw-pile lighthouse]] lying in the [[North Sea]], six miles off the coast at [[Frinton-on-Sea]] in [[Essex]], constructed in 1850 by [[James Walker (engineer)|James Walker]] of [[Trinity House]]. [[George Henry Saunders]] was the contractor. Walker and Burges were the Engineers.<ref name=Grace>{{cite web|url=http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Gunfleet_Lighthouse|title=Gunfleet Lighthouse| website =Grace's Guide to British Industrial History|access-date=2016-12-20}}</ref> It is {{convert|74|ft}} in height and hexagonal in plan; mounted on seven piles forming a steel lattice and originally painted red. <ref name=mycetes>
{{cite web|url=http://www.mycetes.co.uk/a/page90.html|title=Gunfleet Lighthouse|access-date=2012-12-03}}</ref>
{{cite web|url=http://www.mycetes.co.uk/a/page90.html|title=Gunfleet Lighthouse|access-date=2012-12-03}}</ref>


When in use, the lighthouse was manned by two keepers. They were accommodated in a single-storey dwelling, immediately below the lantern, which was divided into a living room (also used as a kitchen), a bed room and an oil room (in which the fuel for the lamps was stored). The walls and roof were of [[corrugated iron]], with [[wrought iron]] angle plates. Additional storage space was provided in the 'inverted pyramid' beneath the dwelling, which was accessed by a ladder from the gallery.<ref name="VanNostrand1876">{{cite journal |title=Light-houses |journal=Van Nostrand's Engineering Magazine |date=February 1876 |volume=XIV |issue=LXXXVI |page=102}}</ref>
It was deactivated in 1921.<ref name=holman>

The light flashed red once every 30 seconds, using [[Argand lamp]]s and [[Parabolic reflector|reflectors]] mounted on a revolving triangular frame, with a pane of red glass mounted in front of each reflector. Initially nine lamps and reflectors were used (three groups of three),<ref name="RC1861vol1">{{cite web | title = Lighthouse management : the report of the Royal Commissioners on Lights, Buoys, and Beacons, 1861, examined and refuted Vol. 1 | page = 33 | url = https://archive.org/details/lighthousemanage01blak/page/33/mode/1up }}</ref> but the number was later increased to fifteen (three groups of five).<ref name="VanNostrand1876" />

Gunfleet lighthouse was deactivated in 1921.<ref name=holman>
{{cite web
{{cite web
|url=http://www.offshoreradiomuseum.co.uk/page846.html
|url=http://www.offshoreradiomuseum.co.uk/page846.html
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|website=Offshore Radio Museum
|website=Offshore Radio Museum
|access-date=2016-12-20
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}}</ref> though still in use as an automated weather station by the [[Port of London Authority]],<ref name=mycetes/> and marks the northern limit of their jurisdiction.<ref>
}}</ref> It remains in use as an automated weather station by the [[Port of London Authority]],<ref name=mycetes/> and marks the northern limit of their jurisdiction.<ref>
{{cite web
{{cite web
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|publisher=Port of London Authority
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|access-date=7 July 2014
|access-date=7 July 2014
}}</ref>
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In 1974 an attempt was made to use the lighthouse as a base for the pirate radio station [[Radio Atlantis]] but this was thwarted by the authorities.<ref name=holman/>
In 1974 an attempt was made to use the lighthouse as a base for the pirate radio station [[Radio Atlantis]] but this was thwarted by the authorities.<ref name=holman/>

Revision as of 15:22, 15 March 2021

Gunfleet Lighthouse
Distant view taken in 2010
Map
Locationoffshore of Frinton-on-Sea
Essex
England
Coordinates51°46′08″N 1°20′30″E / 51.76889°N 1.34167°E / 51.76889; 1.34167
Tower
Constructed1850
Built byJames Walker Edit this on Wikidata
Constructionscrew-pile tower
Height23 metres (75 ft)
Shapehexagonal tower with keeper's quarter, balcony and lantern
OperatorGunfleet Sands Windfarm[1]
Light
Deactivated1921

Gunfleet Lighthouse is a derelict screw-pile lighthouse lying in the North Sea, six miles off the coast at Frinton-on-Sea in Essex, constructed in 1850 by James Walker of Trinity House. George Henry Saunders was the contractor. Walker and Burges were the Engineers.[2] It is 74 feet (23 m) in height and hexagonal in plan; mounted on seven piles forming a steel lattice and originally painted red. [3]

When in use, the lighthouse was manned by two keepers. They were accommodated in a single-storey dwelling, immediately below the lantern, which was divided into a living room (also used as a kitchen), a bed room and an oil room (in which the fuel for the lamps was stored). The walls and roof were of corrugated iron, with wrought iron angle plates. Additional storage space was provided in the 'inverted pyramid' beneath the dwelling, which was accessed by a ladder from the gallery.[4]

The light flashed red once every 30 seconds, using Argand lamps and reflectors mounted on a revolving triangular frame, with a pane of red glass mounted in front of each reflector. Initially nine lamps and reflectors were used (three groups of three),[5] but the number was later increased to fifteen (three groups of five).[4]

Gunfleet lighthouse was deactivated in 1921.[6] It remains in use as an automated weather station by the Port of London Authority,[3] and marks the northern limit of their jurisdiction.[7]

In 1974 an attempt was made to use the lighthouse as a base for the pirate radio station Radio Atlantis but this was thwarted by the authorities.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Gunfleet The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 1 May 2016
  2. ^ "Gunfleet Lighthouse". Grace's Guide to British Industrial History. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Gunfleet Lighthouse". Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Light-houses". Van Nostrand's Engineering Magazine. XIV (LXXXVI): 102. February 1876.
  5. ^ "Lighthouse management : the report of the Royal Commissioners on Lights, Buoys, and Beacons, 1861, examined and refuted Vol. 1". p. 33.
  6. ^ a b "Gunfleet Lighthouse". Offshore Radio Museum. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Tide Tables and Port Information" (PDF). Port of London Authority. p. 8. Retrieved 7 July 2014.