Watchet Harbour Lighthouse

Watchet Harbour Lighthouse
	Watchet Harbour Lighthouse
Location	Watchet; Somerset; England.
Coordinates	51°11′02″N 3°19′43″W / 51.184016°N 3.328669°W
Tower
Constructed	1862
Construction	cast iron tower
Height	6.5 metres (21 ft)
Shape	tapered hexagonal prism with lantern
Markings	orange tower, white lantern, dark green lantern roof
Operator	Watchet Harbour Marina
Light
Focal height	9 metres (30 ft)
Range	10 miles (16 km)
Characteristic	F G

The Watchet Harbour Lighthouse is a marine navigational aid marking the entrance to a Marina within the town of Watchet, in Somerset, England.

History

In the 1850s the West Somerset Mineral Railway was nearing completion. Parts of the harbour had fallen into disrepair, and boats were beached and loaded direct from carts brought onto the foreshore.^[2] It was recognised that improvements were needed for the sake of the prosperity of the town and the export of iron ore from ironstone mines in the Brendon Hills to Newport and thence to Ebbw Vale for smelting. The Watchet Harbour Act was passed in 1857, placing it under the control of Commissioners; they built a new east pier and rebuilt the west pier; the work was finished in 1862, and 500 ton vessels could enter the harbour.^[3] The west pier on which the lighthouse stands was constructed in 1860, at the same time as the current east pier, by Hennets of Bridgwater, and rebuilt in 1905.^[4]

Tenders for the new lighthouse at the end of the harbour wall were placed in 1860. Three bids were received. The design by Isambard Kingdom Brunel was rejected in favour of one by James Abernethy. This was built by Hennet, Spinks and Else of Bridgwater for £75.^[5] The cast iron structure was topped with an oil lamp.^[6]

In September 2012, Princess Anne unveiled a plaque to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the lighthouse.^[7]

Structure and operation

The cast iron lighthouse is approximately 22 feet (6.7 m)^[8] in height and has a red hexagonal tower with white lantern, and green lens.^[9]

The lighthouse is a harbour navigation mark and does not emit a flashing light associated with traditional lighthouses. Instead it displays a fixed green luminaire marking the starboard (right hand side) approach to the marina.^[10]^[11]

References

^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Western England". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
^ Farr, Grahame (1954). Somerset Harbours. Christopher Johnson. pp. 125–137.
^ Thomas, David St John (1966). Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: The West Country v. 1. David & Charles. ISBN 0946537178.
^ "The cast iron lighthouse at the end of the rebuilt west pier". West Somerset Mineral Railway. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
^ "Princess Anne visits Watchet to mark 150 years of lighthouse". BBC News. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
^ "Princess Royal pays visit to Watchet lighthouse". Western Daily Press. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2016.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Princess Royal pays visit to Watchet lighthouse". Western Daily Press. 21 September 2012. Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ Millichamp, Mike. "Guide to English and Welsh Lights". Lighthouse Compendium. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Western England". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
^ "Watchet Lighthouse". Worldwide Lighthouses. Retrieved 11 June 2011.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Watchet Lighthouse". Lighthouse Depot. Retrieved 11 June 2011.^{[permanent dead link]}