Since I got to the end of the week before doing the LotW post, and it's Memorial Day weekend in the USA, I had the idea to search for "red white blue lighthouse". There are a lot of them. Unfortunately, none of them are actual lighthouses -- they are commonly either paintings, models, or miniature ones put in gardens or on decks.
But in the pictures a lot of red and white lighthouses showed up, and this one looked interesting because in a few pictures it didn't look like there was any ocean nearby (such as this one). The reason for this illusion is that the lighthouse is set back a couple of hundred yards from the low bluffs on the coast, and it does appear to be partially surrounded by agricultural fields.
This is an interesting light in other ways; it's the only privately-run lighthouse in the UK, for one, and the pronunciation of 'Happisburgh' is nothing like what a reader or speaker of USA English would think it is (see below). And it has a 1st order Fresnel lens!
So let's get to the details. This website has a lot of links to more information: Happisburgh Lighthouse: Happisburgh Village Website
Click to see where it is located (zoom in to see its location on the coast).
Now the Lighthouse Directory will tell us more.
"1791. Active (privately maintained); focal plane 41 m (135 ft); three white flashes every 30 s. 26 m (85 ft) round brick tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. 1st order Fresnel lens (1868) in use. The two 2-story brick keeper's houses have been private residences since the light was automated in 1929. The name of this lighthouse is pronounced "Haisbro." ... This historic light was declared redundant by Trinity House in 1988, but a local trust was organized to continue its operation. In 1990 a special act of Parliament chartered the Happisburgh Lighthouse Trust as Britain's first (and, so far, only) private lighthouse authority, allowing Trinity House to transfer ownership and operation to the trust."
You may now pronounce 'Happisburgh' properly.
Below, pictures and a video showing the repainting of the lighthouse, which includes some great views of the lighthouse.
 |
| by David Powley |
 |
| by Nick Garrod |
No comments:
Post a Comment