U.S. Lighthouse Society ~ Lighthouses of the United Kingdom
North Foreland Lighthouse
(Isle of Thanet in Kent)
A NON-PROFIT HISTORICAL & EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY U.S. Lighthouse Society ~ Lighthouses of the United Kingdom
History
A light was first exhibited at North Foreland in 1499, but the first real lighthouse was built by Sir John Meldrum in 1636. The lighthouse consisted of a two storey octagonal tower made of timber, lath and plaster with an iron coal burning grate on top. This tower was destroyed by fire in 1683.
A temporary measure of a single candle in a lantern hoisted on a pole proved, not surprisingly, ineffective and the present structure was built in 1691; originally the tower was 12 metres tall constructed of brick, stone and flint. In 1698 the lighthouse is recorded as using 100 tons of coal a year.
North Foreland Lighthouse came into the hands of the Trustees of Greenwich Hospital in 1719, they used the surplus from the light dues for the upkeep of the hospital for the benefit of seamen. They enclosed the fire in a glazed lantern in 1719 but this was removed in 1730 after complaints from shipping. In 1793 a further two stories were added to the tower and the coal fire was replaced by 18 oil lamps.
A NON-PROFIT HISTORICAL & EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY U.S. Lighthouse Society ~ Lighthouses of the United Kingdom
Trinity House purchased the lighthouse in 1832. In 1890 a separate room known as the lantern house, was built on to the top of the tower to accommodate the light.
North Foreland was the last Trinity Lighthouse to be automated when it was converted to automatic operation at a ceremony attended by his Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh in 1998.
Specifications
Established 1499
Height Of Tower 26 Metres
Height Of Light Above Mean High Water 57 Metres
Automated 1998
Electrified 1920
Lamp Cluster of 4 x 230V 500W Halogen Lamps
Optic 1st Order Catadioptric Fixed Lens
Character 5 Red And White Flashes Every 20 Seconds
Range Of Light White 19 nautical miles Red Sector (150 -181 ) 16 nautical miles Red Sector (181 - 200 ) 15 nautical miles
A NON-PROFIT HISTORICAL & EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY U.S. Lighthouse Society ~ Lighthouses of the United Kingdom
Holiday Cottages
North Foreland Lighthouse lies on the chalk headland above the charming and unspoiled seaside town of Broadstairs at the far eastern tip of Kent. The lighthouse itself has 2 self catering former lighthouse keepers holiday cottages. Lodesman and Khina are very child friendly surrounded by spacious lawn grounds and set well away from cliffs.
The holiday cottages have shared use of a very large 1‐acre lawn garden and patio with ample space to sit out. Places to visit in this area of Kent include Joss Bay which has an excellent sandy beach, only 3 minuteʹs walk away. The nearest pub, The Digby Inn, is a 10‐minute stroll and serves good food. For golfing enthusiasts, The North Foreland Golf Club is very close by.
Broadstairs in Kent has good sandy beaches and an attractive old town which has literary associations with Charles Dickens. Bleak House in the town is where Dickens lived while he was writing David Copperfield. The town holds a Dickens festival in June each year and a popular Folk Music Week in August.
Book This Cottage
Bookings are handled by Rural Retreats Tel: +44 (0) 1386 701 177 www.ruralretreats.co.uk
A NON-PROFIT HISTORICAL & EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY