Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Lighthouse of the Week, April 3-9, 2022: St. Mary's Light, UK

 

So, this lighthouse has a lot of history, and has a LOT of art devoted to it, photographic, painting, and models, too.   

Here's where it is.  (Click on that.)  Note, if you zoom in, that the map doesn't indicate that the causeway allowing walks to the lighthouse is only exposed at low tides.  It's basically on the coast north of Newcastle.

So it's touristy. 

Before we get to the Lighthouse Directory info, I'll have to share the early history from Wikipedia. 

"The first light here was in the priory - an 11th-century monastic chapel, whose monks maintained a lantern on the tower to warn passing ships of the danger of the rocks. A lighthouse was built here in 1664 using stone from the priory."   

Next, they demolished that structure and built the current lighthouse. 

"1888. Inactive since 1984. 46 m (150 ft) brick tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. The original Fresnel lens was sent to the lighthouse museum in Penzance (now closed), and the current lens was transferred from Withernsea Light (see Eastern England). A complete light station, with keeper's houses and other buildings. ... Trinity House built this lighthouse to replace a 17th century tower at Tynemouth Castle. The light station is located on a rocky reef linked to the mainland at low tide by a walkway. After deactivation it was transferred to the local government as a tourist attraction. In July 2007 the North Tyneside Council announced £130,000 in repairs and repainting for the lighthouse. A master plan for the future of the island and light station was being prepared. The original Fresnel lens will be returned from Penzance to be displayed in the base of the tower [Wikipedia says that has happened]. ...  Located on a rocky point north of Whitley Bay, about 5 km (3 mi) north of North Shields. Accessible by road, parking provided. Site open; tower open to guided tours on days when the time of low tide permits."

Below are some of the many pictures, and a model.








 

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