Southwold lighthouse

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Southwold lighthouse
Southwold lighthouse
Southwold lighthouse
Southwold lighthouse within Suffolk
Location Southwold
Coordinates 52°19′38″N 01°40′53″E / 52.32722°N 1.68139°E / 52.32722; 1.68139
Year first constructed 1889
Year first lit 1890
Automated 1938
Construction Brick
Markings / pattern White
Height 31 metres (102 ft)
Focal height 37 metres (121 ft)
Current lens Pelangi PRL400TH
Range White 24 nautical miles (44 km)
Characteristic White rotating - flashing once every 10 seconds
ARLHS number ENG 135

Southwold lighthouse is a lighthouse operated by Trinity House in the centre of Southwold in Suffolk, England. It stands on the North Sea coast, acting as a warning light for shipping passing along the east coast and as a guide for vessels navigating to Southwold harbour.

The lighthouse, which is a prominent local landmark, was commissioned in 1890, and was automated and electrified in 1938. It survived a fire in its original oil-fired lamp just six days after commissioning and today operates a 150-watt lamp. The main navigation lamp has a range of 24 nautical miles (44 km; 28 mi).[1]

History

Construction of the lighthouse began in 1887, led by Sir James Douglass, Engineer in Chief of Trinity House.[1] A light was lit on a temporary structure in February 1889 and the lighthouse itself began operating on 3 September 1890.[1] It replaced three lighthouses that had been condemned as a result of serious coastal erosion. The lantern itself was previously used at the Happisburgh low lighthouse but became available when the latter light was demolished.[2]

The original light was powered by a six-wick Argand oil burner.[3] Just six days after the light was commissioned there was a fire in the lighthouse with the burner being destroyed.[4][5] The inexperience of the new lighthouse keepers was blamed for the fire.[5] The burner was replaced with an oil-fired light in 1906 and a petroleum burner in 1923. The light was electrified and automated in 1938.[1] It was converted to battery operation, with the batteries charged using mains electricity, in 2001.[2]

The lighthouse, along with Lowestoft lighthouse to the north, was threatened with closure by Trinity House in 2005, with shipping companies increasingly using satellite navigation systems rather than relying on lighthouses.[6][7] Both lighthouses were reprieved in 2009 following a review by Trinity House that found that satellite navigation systems were not yet sufficiently reliable.[8]

Current display

A BLV Topspot 90 Volt Metal Halide 150-watt revolving lamp with a range of 24 nautical miles (44 km; 28 mi) provides the main light.[1][3] This replaced three 90-watt Osram Halostar lights with a range of 17 nautical miles (31 km; 20 mi) in December 2012 in preparation for the closure of Orfordness lighthouse in June 2013.[1][2][3][9][10][11][12]

The current light characteristic is one white flash every 10 seconds (Fl(1).W.10s) visible between 204°–032.5°.[3][13] The white light is used for general navigation. Red sectors, previously used to mark shoals to the north and offshore sandbanks at Sizewell to the south, were removed as part of the 2012 refit.[1][3]

Buildings

Southwold lighthouse

The lighthouse is 31 metres (102 ft) tall, standing 37 metres (121 ft) above sea level. It is built of brick and painted white, and has 113 steps around a spiral staircase.[14] Two keeper's cottages were built next to the lighthouse rather than living quarters being made in the lighthouse itself.[2] The lighthouse is a Grade II listed building.[15] Guided visits are run by the Southwold Millennium Foundation.[1][14]

The lighthouse was the site of charity abseil events in 2009 and 2011. The events raised money for the Southwold lifeboat operated by the RNLI from Southwold harbour.[16][17]

Cultural references

The lighthouse has featured in television programmes, including an episode of Kavanagh QC[18] and the children's television series Grandpa in My Pocket.[1] Adnams brewery, which operates from the town, has named a pale ale Lighthouse in recognition of the importance of the lighthouse as a landmark in Southwold and has featured the lighthouse on promotional material.[8][19]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Southwold, Trinity House. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Point 2 - The Lighthouse, BBC News Suffolk, 2 July 2005. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Application note 32064 - Southwold Conversion, Pelangi. Retrieved 2013-01-04.
  4. ↑ Discovering Southwold, BBC News Suffolk, 4 July 2005. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 The sea - Southwold's lighthouse, Southwold Museum. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  6. ↑ Landmark lighthouses may be axed, BBC News, 4 August 2005. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  7. ↑ Barnes, Jonathan. (4 August 2005). Historic lighthouses face closure, East Anglian Daily Times, Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lighthouse wins reprieve as sat nav for ships not reliable enough, The Daily Telegraph, 9 January 2009. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  9. ↑ Rogers, Lauren (12 May 2011) Southwold Lighthouse reach will be extended to keep mariners safe, Lowestoft Journal. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  10. ↑ Orfordness Lighthouse: last chance for the public to visit?, BBC News Suffolk, 18 August 2011. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  11. ↑ Notice to mariners 38/2012 B5 Southwold LH, Trinity House, 3 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  12. ↑ Orfordness lighthouse gets switched-off and left to the sea, BBC Suffolk news website, 28 June 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-28.
  13. ↑ Notice to Mariners - 49/2012 B6 Southwold LH, Trinty House. 5 November 2012. Retrieved 2013-01-04.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 See inside a lighthouse(pdf), Trinity House. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  15. ↑ The Lighthouse, Southwold, British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  16. ↑ Bernard’s Southwold lighthouse challenge, Lowestoft Journal, 14 August 2011. Retrieved 2013-01-04.
  17. ↑ Daring abseilers brave dizzying lighthouse heights, East Anglian Daily Times, 15 August 2011. Retrieved 2013-01-04.
  18. ↑ Southwold Camping and Caravan Site, Waveney District Council. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  19. ↑ Adnams Lighthouse, Adnams Southwold. Retrieved 2012-10-29.

External links

Coordinates: 52°19′38″N 01°40′53″E / 52.32722°N 1.68139°E / 52.32722; 1.68139

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