Withernsea Lighthouse: Difference between revisions
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[List of lighthouses in England]] |
* [[List of lighthouses in England]] |
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Revision as of 06:13, 21 November 2019
 Whiternsea Lighthouse | |
 | |
| Location | Withernsea East Riding of Yorkshire England |
|---|---|
| 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 | 39 metres (128 ft) |
| 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
The lighthouse is a surprising distance (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]
Originally, the lantern contained an eight-wick paraffin lamp within an eight-sided revolving Fresnel lens array. The lens weighed two tons and floated in a mercury bath; it was turned by clockwork. The lens and clockwork mechanism remained in use into the 1970s,[5] but the lamp was electrified in 1936: its 100 volt, 1500 watt bulb gave the lighthouse a range of 17 nmi (31 km; 20 mi).[3]
Lighthouse today
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.
Views from the lamp room in the Withernsea Lighthouse are breathtaking, especially after climbing the 144 steps. There is no lamp, however, 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 now a Grade II listed building.[2]
Gallery
-
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
See also
References
- ^ Withernsea 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. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
- ^ a b Jones, Robin (2014). Lighthouses of the North East Coast. Wellington, Somerset: Halsgrove.
- ^ "Withernsea (photographed in 1974)". Lighthouses of England. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
External links
- Withernsea Lighthouse
- BBC Humber article by Dale Baxter
- Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1083470)". National Heritage List for England.
