High Lighthouse

 

Burnham High Light was the first English lighthouse to function entirely without keepers and one of the earliest unmanned lighthouses in the world.

Following a survey of the Bristol Channel by Lieut. Henry Denham R.N. Burnham High and Low lights were built, on his recommendation, to a design by Joseph Nelson and inaugurated in 1832 .

The High Light is 120 feet high and was constructed of brick and granite, the tower being glazed only on the seaward side; as the tower was placed some distance inland the light was not required to be visible from all directions. The original chimney for the oil burner can clearly be seen in the picture at the top of the page.

19A. Lighthouse 1907

 It has eight floors, including the entrance floor and the lantern floor. Circular stairs used to wind round the inner walls; these were removed and replaced by six metal ladders – it was a strenuous climb to the lantern, but worth every step for the breathtaking view from the balcony over the bay and beyond. Unfortunately, access was difficult due to the physical danger involved in such a climb.

The High Light used a flashing mechanism, whereas the Low Light showed continuous fixed white and red lights.

By using these two lighthouses, carefully placed, the exact bearing of the deep water channel into the Parrett estuary could be located. A vessel would line up the lights one above the other to show the entrance to the channel.

The lighthouse is mentioned in an account of Burnham written in the Bristol Mercury of 5th December 1863:

In 1905 both the high and low lights were converted to gas as detailed in the local press report below:

Clipping from Dupuis Diaries.

Below, keepers outside lighthouse 1905.

With the coming of electricity to Burnham in 1927 the gas lamps replaced by a 1000 watt electric bulb with a range of 15 miles. This also meant that automation was possible – Burnham High Light was the first English lighthouse to function entirely without keepers and one of the earliest unmanned lighthouses in the world.

1965

In 1969 a ‘sector’ light was installed beneath the main lantern. In addition to the flashing white light this provided a light of three colours – green, white and red – all of which used together could provide shipping with the correct bearing for the deep water channel. The sector light made the Low Light obsolete and it was therefore discontinued in 1969. However, it was recommissioned in 1993 and is a Grade I listed building.

The two cottages at the base of the High Light were originally built for the light-keepers. These are now private residences. Indeed, one was occupied by the same owner from 1927 until at least 1994. Over the years, an attendant kept the lighthouse in good working order, attending regularly to the light and maintaining the building, until its sale.

Sadly the High Light too has now become obsolete, as sophisticated satellite and radar navigation systems have replaced the flashing light and the 1000 watt navigation beam is no longer needed. Trinity House put the Grade II listed landmark up for sale. The building was purchased privately and is now used as holiday accommodation.

Please note this article is copyrighted and included here by kind permission of Ms. Ann Carr. Additional information and the article in full can be found here:

http://annart.hubpages.com/hub/INTERESTING-ENGLAND-Somerset-a-History-of-the-Lighthouses-of-Burnham-on-Sea-Somerset:

Illustrations are from other sources.

Follow this link for information about the switch-over of the lighthouses in 1993

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