Burnham-on-Sea Low Lighthouse

Burnham-on-Sea is notable for its beach and mudflats, which are characteristic of Bridgwater Bay and the rest of the Bristol Channel where the tide can recede for over {{convert|1.5|mi|km|1}}. Burnham is close to the estuary of the River Parrett where it flows into the Bristol Channel, which has the second highest tidal range in the world of {{convert|15|m|ft}},{{cite web |title=Why is the Severn Estuary special? |url=http://www.severnestuarypartnership.org.uk/files/2015/11/Intro_SE-Wales_english.pdf |publisher=Severn Estuary Partnership |access-date=4 January 2017 |archive-date=5 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105084628/http://www.severnestuarypartnership.org.uk/files/2015/11/Intro_SE-Wales_english.pdf |url-status=dead }} second only to Bay of Fundy in Eastern Canada.{{cite book |title=Extreme Depositional Environments: Mega End Members in Geologic Time |first=Marjorie A. |last=Chan |author2=Archer, Allen William |pages=151 |location=Boulder, Colorado |isbn=0-8137-2370-1 |publisher=Geological Society of America |year=2003 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b3_1Ry0gDqEC&dq=bristol+channel&pg=PA152}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2005/07/04/bristolchannel_feature.shtml |title=Coast: Bristol Channel |work=BBC |access-date=27 August 2007}} The constantly shifting sands have always been a significant risk to shipping in the area.

The low wooden pile lighthouse is {{convert|36|ft|m}} high, the light being at {{convert|23|ft|m}}. It was built by Joseph Nelson in 1832, in conjunction with the High Lighthouse, to replace the original Round Tower Lighthouse (which itself had been built to replace the light kept burning in the tower of St Andrews Church to guide fishing boats into the harbour).{{cite web |url=http://www.burnham-on-sea.com/lighthouses.shtml |title=Lighthouses |publisher=Burnham on Sea.com |access-date=5 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918190519/http://burnham-on-sea.com/lighthouses.shtml |archive-date=18 September 2010 |url-status=dead }} The new High and Low lighthouses were first lit on 1 December 1832.{{cite web | title = Lighthouse management : the report of the Royal Commissioners on Lights, Buoys, and Beacons, 1861, examined and refuted Vol. 2 | year = 1861 | page = 96 | url = https://archive.org/stream/lighthousemanage02blak#page/96/mode/1up }}

The Low Lighthouse was painted white with, on the seaward side, a black vertical stripe, one third the width of the building; the High Lighthouse was plain white. In 1890, to make the lighthouses more conspicuous by day, the colour of the stripe on the Low Lighthouse was altered to red, and a similar red vertical stripe was added to the High Lighthouse.{{cite journal |title=Monthly Abstract of Nautical Notices: Burnham Lighthouses — Alteration in Colour |journal=The Nautical Magazine |date=1890 |volume=59 |page=1056}} Operation of the Low light was overseen by the keepers based and accommodated at the High Lighthouse.

The Low Lighthouse showed a narrow fixed beam of white light from the lightroom on the upper floor, through a {{convert|2|ft|6|in|abbr=on}} square window on the west side of the structure. Together, the High and Low Lighthouses functioned as leading lights, guiding vessels into the entrance channel for the River Parrett (the narrow entrance channel to the river lay between extensive mud flats: Berrow Flats to the north, Stert Flats to the south).{{cite book |last1=Denham |first1=Henry Mangles |title=Sailing Directions for the Bristol Channel |date=1839 |publisher=Hydrographic Office |location=London |pages=22–26}} The Low light had a range of {{convert|12|nmi|abbr=on}}, and beyond the narrow entrance channel the leading lights served in addition to provide a safe line of approach for vessels navigating up the Bristol Channel from the direction of Hurlstone Point and Minehead.

In April 1844, Trinity House issued a notice warning that the Gore Sand (at the southernmost tip of Berrow Flats) had extended itself in a southerly direction to such an extent that the two lighthouses in line no longer indicated the deep water channel between the mud flats.{{cite book |last1=Norie |first1=J. W. |last2=Hobbs |first2=J. S. |title=New and complete sailing directions to the Bristol and St George's Channels |date=1847 |publisher=Charles Wilson |location=London}} From 1 November 1866, the Low light was provided with an additional red light which shone a narrow beam in the direction of Gore Sand; at the same time, another red light was added (shining upriver from a window on the south side) to help guide vessels leaving the River Parrett.{{cite book |title=The Nautical Magazine and Naval Chronicle for 1866 |date=1866 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=682}}

When electricity was brought to Burnham in 1927 a 1000-watt incandescent light bulb was installed in each lighthouse (replacing the paraffin vapour burners then in use) which rendered the keepers redundant. A submarine cable was laid between the two lighthouses and the characteristics of the two lights were synchronised (being controlled by a 'motor driven character machine' installed in the High lighthouse, which controlled both light circuits together).{{cite book |last1=Bowen |first1=John Poland |title=British Lighthouses |date=1947 |publisher=Longmans, Green & Co. |location=London |page=26}} Both lights were given an occulting characteristic, the Low light occulting every 2.5 seconds, the High light every 5 seconds. In each location the lamp was set within a sectional fixed optic, backed by a dioptric mirror.Encyclopedia Britannica, 1929 edition, volume 14, page 96. An automatic lamp changer was provided: in the event of a lamp failure the spare bulb was brought into operation and if it also failed an acetylene lamp would be automatically lit.{{cite journal |title=Automatic Lighthouse Can't Fail |journal=Popular Science Monthly |date=June 1928 |page=57}} Following automation, the Low light had a range of {{convert|9|nmi|abbr=on}}, the High light {{convert|15|nmi|abbr=on}}. The Low light retained its red sectors.{{cite book |title=List of Lights and Fog Signals: British Isles, English Channel and North Sea |date=1962 |publisher=U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office |location=Washington DC |page=131}}

From 1969, in addition to the main light, a subsidiary sector light was shown from a lower window in the High Lighthouse to indicate the correct bearing for the deep-water channel. This rendered the Low lighthouse surplus to requirements and it was deactivated that same year. On 31 December 1993, however, the High lighthouse was itself, in turn, deactivated; its flashing white light and subsidiary sector light were both transferred to the Low lighthouse, which was thereby brought back into commission.{{cite web |url=http://www.burnham-on-sea.com/lighthouses.shtml |title=Burnham-On-Sea Lighthouses |publisher=Burnham on Sea.com |access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918190519/http://burnham-on-sea.com/lighthouses.shtml |archive-date=18 September 2010 |url-status=dead }}

Today, the Low Lighthouse has a focal plane of {{convert|7|m|ft}} and provides a white flash every 7.5s, plus a fixed directional light (white, red, or green depending on direction) at a focal plane of {{convert|4|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It is operated by Sedgemoor District Council.{{cite rowlett|engw|accessdate=2 January 2015}}

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Category:Burnham-on-Sea