The Lighthouse 6

Orford Ness and the offshore sandbanks have always been a hazard to shipping.

Orfordness 1830, watercolour by J M W Turner on loan to the Whitworth Art Gallery, University of Manchester

IN 1627 32 ships were wrecked in a storm off Orford Ness. This resulted in two lights Chart of the East Coast of by William Heather, 1811 being established, the Great (or High) Light © Crown Copyright 2004, by permission of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office and the UK Hydrographic Office on the high point of the Ness, and the Low Light closer to the sea. The Low Light was Low Light c1858- FROM 1945 the lighthouse operated initially lit by candles. The High Light was 1860 by permission of normally again. fuelled by coal. Record Office IN 1959 the oil lamps were converted to BY 1691 nearly 10m (30 feet) of shingle electricity. had been washed away, taking with it the IN 1866 and 1867 Low Light. The lights were also vulnerable to major additions IN 1965 the lighthouse became remotely attacks by pirates. and alterations controlled from Harwich and the keepers were undertaken. left Orford Ness. Charlie Underwood took on IN 1731 two brick lighthouses were built the position of ‘Attendant’ of the lighthouse Contract and the fuel changed to oil. in 1965. He visited the light regularly and drawing no 1, was on call at night in case of emergencies. 1866 by permission of Charlie wrote a history of the lighthouses for IN 1792 a new, ‘state of the art’ lighthouse was erected. It was 27 metres (89 feet) high the bi-centenary celebrations in 1992. He and lit by 14 oil lamps with silver-plated was the first chairman of the Orford Museum reflectors. This is essentially the lighthouse IN 1887 another Trust from 1994 until his sudden death in we see today. The old High Light became storm caused 1997. the Low Light. The old Low Light was flooding and the Charlie abandoned and eventually swept away. Low Light was Underwood finally abandoned. (left) at the lighthouse with The families of Ralph Brinkley the lighthouse (Orford Harbour keepers lived on Orford Ness, known locally Master), 1992 as the ‘Island’, in two dwellings attached to Orford Museum the tower. The children went to school in collection Orford, being ferried across to Orford Quay. IN 1936 the lighthouse became a ‘rock’ station and the families left the ‘Island’. IN 2013 the last of the lighthouses on the Ness was decommissioned by Trinity House. DURING WORLD WARS I and II the It is now owned by the was placed under the jurisdiction Lighthouse Trust, a charitable foundation The High and Low Lights drawn by of the Admiralty. The tower became an formed to maintain the building and open it E C Calver, 1820 - 1840 © Crown Copyright 2004, by permission of Her Majesty’s observation post. The light functioned only to the public. The lighthouse will, however, Stationery Office and the UK Hydrographic Office when British naval convoys were in the area. always remain at risk from the sea.