Gunfleet Lighthouse
51°46′45″N 1°21′27″E / 51.7792°N 1.3576°E 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 of Trinity House. It is 74 feet in height and hexagonal in plan; mounted on seven piles forming a steel lattice and originally painted red. The living accomodation comprises a living room, bedroom, kitchen/washroom and storeroom.[1]
It was abandoned in 1921[2] though still in use as an automated weather station by the Port of London Authority,[1] and marks the northern limit of their jurisdiction.[3]
In 1974 an attempt was made to use the lighthouse as a base for a pirate radio station 'Radio Atlantis' but this was thwarted by the authorities.[1]
References
- ^ a b c http://www.mycetes.co.uk/a/page90.html
- ^ http://www.broadcasting-fleet.com/gunfleet.htm
- ^ http://www.pla.co.uk/pdfs/hydro/PLA_Tide_Tables_2011-lowresl-.pdf PLA tide Tables and Port Limits, page 8