U.S. Lighthouse Society ~ Lighthouses of the United Kingdom Beachy Head Lighthouse (Close to Eastbourne, East Sussex) A NON-PROFIT HISTORICAL & EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY U.S. Lighthouse Society ~ Lighthouses of the United Kingdom History It is said that as early as 1670 a light shone to guide passing vessels from the top of the cliffs at Beachy Head, the 90 metres high seaward termination of the Sussex Downs. In 1828 James Walker erected Belle Toute Lighthouse, a 14 meter high circular tower, on the headland. This remained in operation till 1899 when it was abandoned due to being frequently shrouded in mist and threatened with collapse because of recurrent falls of chalk from the cliff. In 1902 under the direction of Sir Thomas Matthews, the Trinity House Engineer‐in‐Chief, the present lighthouse was brought into service, sited about 165 metres seawards from the base of the cliffs. It took two years to complete and involved building a coffer‐dam and a cableway from the top of the cliffs to carry materials down to the site. 3,660 tons of Cornish granite were used in the construction of the tower. Beachy Head lighthouse was automated and demanned in June 1983. It is monitored 24 hours a day from the Trinity House Operations & Planning Centre at Harwich in Essex. Specifications Established 1828 Height Of Tower 43 Metres Height Of Light Above Mean High Water 31 Metres Automated 1983 Electrified 1920 Optic First Order 920 Mm Asymmetrical Catadioptric Lamp 1 x single tier LED Lantern Character 2 White Flashes Every 20 Seconds A NON-PROFIT HISTORICAL & EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY U.S. Lighthouse Society ~ Lighthouses of the United Kingdom Intensity Candela Range Of Light 8 nautical miles A NON-PROFIT HISTORICAL & EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY .