Portland's 'forgotten' lighthouse.
This is the Isle of Portland's Old Higher Lighthouse and I suspect is barely noticed by most visitors tp Portland Bill. From 1716, it operated on the west side of the island alongside the Old Lower Lighthouse which is on the eastern side. Rebuilt in 1869, it was then decommissioned in 1906 after the new Portland Bill Lighthouse became operational. It was designated as a Grade 11 Listed Building in 1978. The current owners let two of the cottages associated with the light as holiday accommodation and apparently that includes shared access to the top of the lighthouse.
But wait, there is more. In 1923 the lighthouse was purchased by Marie Stopes, doctor and pioneer of birth control who used it as a summer home until her death in 1958. It seems she had numerous famous visitors e.g. George Bernard Shaw, Thomas Hardy and H.G. Wells. You can read more about Marie Stopes here www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11040319
Portland's 'forgotten' lighthouse.
This is the Isle of Portland's Old Higher Lighthouse and I suspect is barely noticed by most visitors tp Portland Bill. From 1716, it operated on the west side of the island alongside the Old Lower Lighthouse which is on the eastern side. Rebuilt in 1869, it was then decommissioned in 1906 after the new Portland Bill Lighthouse became operational. It was designated as a Grade 11 Listed Building in 1978. The current owners let two of the cottages associated with the light as holiday accommodation and apparently that includes shared access to the top of the lighthouse.
But wait, there is more. In 1923 the lighthouse was purchased by Marie Stopes, doctor and pioneer of birth control who used it as a summer home until her death in 1958. It seems she had numerous famous visitors e.g. George Bernard Shaw, Thomas Hardy and H.G. Wells. You can read more about Marie Stopes here www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11040319