Belle Tout lighthouse
Belle Tout Lighthouse in August 2013
|
|
 East Sussex
|
|
| Location |
Beachy Head East Sussex England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 50°44′18″N 0°12′54″E / 50.738216°N 0.214985°ECoordinates: 50°44′18″N 0°12′54″E / 50.738216°N 0.214985°E |
| Year first constructed | 1932 |
| Deactivated | 1899 |
| Construction | stone tower |
| Tower shape | massive cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Height | 14 metres (46 ft) |
| ARLHS number | ENG-006 |
| Managing agent | Belle Tout Lighthouse |
| Heritage | Grade II listed building |
The Belle Tout lighthouse (also spelled Belle Toute lighthouse) is a decommissioned lighthouse and British landmark located at Beachy Head, East Sussex close to the town of Eastbourne. It has been called "Britain's most famous inhabited lighthouse" because of its striking location and use in film and television. In 1999, the Grade II listed building was moved in one piece to prevent it from succumbing to coastal erosion.
Beachy Head saw numerous shipwrecks in the 17th and early 18th centuries and a petition to erect a lighthouse started around 1691. The calls were ignored for over 100 years until The Thames, an East Indiaman, crashed into the rocks of Beachy Head. The petition gained momentum with the support of a Captain of the Royal Navy and Trinity House, the official lighthouse authority, agreed to attend to the matter. Having witnessed the incident himself, John 'Mad Jack' Fuller, MP for Sussex, used his influence and some of his personal wealth to fund the lighthouse construction. The first Belle Tout lighthouse was a temporary wooden structure that started service on 1 October 1828. The construction of the permanent granite lighthouse began in 1829 and it became operational on 11 October 1834. Its use of 30 oil lamps meant that the lighthouse would require 2 gallons of oil every hour.
The lighthouse was not as successful as had been hoped, with two significant flaws leading to an alternative being sought. The cliff-top location caused problems when sea mists obscured the light, significantly reducing the distance that it would reach. Vessels that sailed too closely to the rocks would not be able to see the light because it was blocked by the edge of the cliff. However, the cliffs of Beachy Head suffered intense coastal erosion over the years and the rocky area started to be covered by the light.
The Belle Tout was in service until 2 October 1902, when a new lighthouse was built at the bottom of the cliffs, known simply at the Beachy Head Lighthouse. Trinity House sold off the building in 1903, after which time it changed hands several times. One purchaser was Sir James Purves-Stewart, who constructed an access road and upgraded the building. A photo of Sir James and Lady Purves-Stewart at Belle Tout is shown.
...
Wikipedia