Happisburgh lighthouse, Norfolk
Happisburgh, on the coast of north Norfolk, has seen substantial coastal erosion and many homes now lie under the North Sea. The lighthouse has been built on a slight hill a couple of hundred yards from the cliffs. Following a special Act of Parliament it is the only independently operated lighthouse in Great Britain, and is also the oldest working lighthouse in East Anglia.
The building was constructed in 1790 as one of a pair of candle-powered lights ("High Lighthouse" and "Low Lighthouse"). It was electrified in 1947. The lighthouse is almost 140 feet tall. The other lighthouse - the "low light" was 20 feet lower. This was decommissioned and demolished in 1883 before it could be lost due to coastal erosion, its lantern being reused at Southwold lighthouse.
Happisburgh lighthouse, Norfolk
Happisburgh, on the coast of north Norfolk, has seen substantial coastal erosion and many homes now lie under the North Sea. The lighthouse has been built on a slight hill a couple of hundred yards from the cliffs. Following a special Act of Parliament it is the only independently operated lighthouse in Great Britain, and is also the oldest working lighthouse in East Anglia.
The building was constructed in 1790 as one of a pair of candle-powered lights ("High Lighthouse" and "Low Lighthouse"). It was electrified in 1947. The lighthouse is almost 140 feet tall. The other lighthouse - the "low light" was 20 feet lower. This was decommissioned and demolished in 1883 before it could be lost due to coastal erosion, its lantern being reused at Southwold lighthouse.