Beachy Head Lighthouse
 The lighthouse from sea level | |
  East Sussex | |
| Location |
Eastbourne East Sussex England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 50°44′02″N 0°14′29″E / 50.733791°N 0.241478°ECoordinates: 50°44′02″N 0°14′29″E / 50.733791°N 0.241478°E |
| Year first constructed | 1902 |
| Automated | 1983 |
| Foundation | concrete basement |
| Construction | granite tower |
| Tower shape | tapered cylindrical with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | white tower with a broad horizontal red band, red lantern |
| Height | 43 m (141 ft) |
| Focal height | 31 m (102 ft) |
| Original lens | First Order 920 mm Asymmetrical Catadioptric rotating optic |
| Current lens | Single-tier LED lantern |
| Range | 8 nmi (15 km; 9.2 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl (2) W 20s. |
| Fog signal | blast every 30s. |
| Admiralty number | A0840 |
| NGA number | 1140 |
| ARLHS number | ENG 005 |
| Managing agent | Trinity House[1] |
Beachy Head Lighthouse was built in the sea below Beachy Head. It is 43 m (141 ft) in height and became operational in October 1902.[2]
Construction
In 1900 to 1902 under the direction of Sir Thomas Matthews, the Trinity House Engineer-in-Chief, the lighthouse was built, sited about 165 metres seawards from the base of the cliffs. For the construction, a temporary cable car from the cliff has been installed for the transport of workers and stones to an iron ocean platform adjacent to the lighthouse. 3,660 tons of Cornish granite were used in the construction of the tower.
Operation
For more than 80 years, the red-and-white striped tower was manned by three lighthouse keepers. Their job was to maintain the light, which rotates, making two white flashes every 20 seconds. It was then visible 26 nautical miles (48 km; 30 mi) out to sea. The lighthouse was fully automated in 1983 and the keepers withdrawn.
In June 2010, Trinity House announced in the five yearly "Aids To Navigation Review" that the light range would be reduced to 8 nmi (15 km; 9.2 mi) and the fog signal discontinued. In February 2011, the work was undertaken and light range reduced by the installation of a new LED navigation light system. The old lens, though no longer in use, was left in situ. The fog signal was also discontinued at this time.
Trinity House announced in 2011 that it could no longer afford to repaint the distinctive red and white stripes and that it would have to be left to return to its natural granite gray. It stated that because boats now have high tech navigational systems the day marker stripes are no longer essential. However, a sponsored campaign to keep the stripes was launched in October 2011. The required £27,000 was raised.[3] The tower repainting was completed in October using a team including two abseilers. Five coats of paint were applied to the copper lantern at the top and three on each hoop of the tower.[4]
Gallery
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Looking towards the cliffs and lighthouse from the west near Birling Gap
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Temporary cable car for the construction of the lighthouse
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The lighthouse from sea side
-
The lighthouse from the east side
See also
References
- ↑ Beachy Head The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved April 29, 2016
- ↑ Surtees, Dr John (1997). Beachy Head. Seaford: SB Publications. ISBN 1-85770-118-6.
- ↑ "Beachy Head Lighthouse Campaign". Beachy Head Lighthouse Campaign.
- ↑ "Beachy Head lighthouse repainting 'finishing touches'". BBC.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beachy Head Lighthouse. |