Watchet Harbour Lighthouse#History
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox lighthouse
| name = Watchet Harbour Lighthouse
| image = Watchet Lighthouse.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| caption = Watchet Harbour Lighthouse
| location = Watchet
Somerset
England.
| coordinates = {{coord|51.184016|-3.328669|display=inline,title}}
| yearbuilt = 1862
| yearlit =
| automated =
| yeardeactivated =
| foundation =
| construction = cast iron tower
| shape = tapered hexagonal prism with lantern
| marking = orange tower, white lantern, dark green lantern roof
| height = {{convert|6.5|m|ft}}
| focalheight = {{convert|9|m|ft}}
| lens =
| currentlens =
| intensity =
| range = {{convert|10|mi|km}}
| characteristic = F G
| fogsignal =
| racon =
| managingagent = Watchet Harbour Marina{{Cite rowlett|engw|accessdate=2016-04-29}}
}}
The Watchet Harbour Lighthouse is a marine navigational aid marking the entrance to a Marina within the town of Watchet, in Somerset, England.
History
In the 1850s the West Somerset Mineral Railway was nearing completion. Parts of the harbour had fallen into disrepair, and boats were beached and loaded direct from carts brought onto the foreshore.{{cite book |title=Somerset Harbours |last=Farr |first=Grahame |year=1954 |publisher=Christopher Johnson |pages=125–137}} It was recognised that improvements were needed for the sake of the prosperity of the town and the export of iron ore from ironstone mines in the Brendon Hills to Newport and thence to Ebbw Vale for smelting.
The Watchet Harbour Act 1857 (20 & 21 Vict. c. cxli) placed the harbour under the control of commissioners; they built a new east pier and rebuilt the west pier; the work was finished in 1862, and 500 ton vessels could enter the harbour.{{cite book|last1=Thomas|first1=David St John|title=Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: The West Country v. 1|date=1966|publisher=David & Charles|isbn=0946537178}} The west pier on which the lighthouse stands was constructed in 1860, at the same time as the current east pier, by Hennets of Bridgwater, and rebuilt in 1905.{{cite web|title=The cast iron lighthouse at the end of the rebuilt west pier|url=http://www.westsomersetmineralrailway.org.uk/welcome/images-and-drawings/directory/?entryid45=9060&q=0%C2%ACHistorical+photograph%C2%AC|publisher=West Somerset Mineral Railway|access-date=11 June 2011|archive-date=8 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008090629/http://www.westsomersetmineralrailway.org.uk/welcome/images-and-drawings/directory/?entryid45=9060&q=0%C2%ACHistorical+photograph%C2%AC|url-status=dead}}
Tenders for the new lighthouse at the end of the harbour wall were placed in 1860. Three bids were received. The design by Isambard Kingdom Brunel was rejected in favour of one by James Abernethy. This was built by Hennet, Spinks and Else of Bridgwater for £75.{{cite news|title=Princess Anne visits Watchet to mark 150 years of lighthouse|work=BBC News |date=20 September 2012 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-19668089|access-date=31 August 2016}} The cast iron structure was topped with an oil lamp.{{cite news|title=Princess Royal pays visit to Watchet lighthouse|url=http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/princess-royal-pays-visit-watchet-lighthouse/story-16956765-detail/story.html|access-date=31 August 2016|work=Western Daily Press|date=21 September 2012}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
In September 2012, Princess Anne unveiled a plaque to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the lighthouse.{{cite news|title=Princess Royal pays visit to Watchet lighthouse|url=http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Princess-Royal-pays-visit-Watchet-lighthouse/story-16956765-detail/story.html|access-date=7 June 2015|work=Western Daily Press|date=21 September 2012|archive-date=8 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308210514/http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Princess-Royal-pays-visit-Watchet-lighthouse/story-16956765-detail/story.html|url-status=dead}}
Structure and operation
The cast iron lighthouse is approximately {{convert|22|ft|m}}{{cite web|last=Millichamp|first=Mike|title=Guide to English and Welsh Lights|url=http://www.mycetes.co.uk/a/page2.html|publisher=Lighthouse Compendium|access-date=11 June 2011|archive-date=1 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701174756/http://www.mycetes.co.uk/a/page2.html|url-status=dead}} in height and has a red hexagonal tower with white lantern, and green lens.{{Cite rowlett|engw|access-date=11 June 2011}}
The lighthouse is a harbour navigation mark and does not emit a flashing light associated with traditional lighthouses. Instead it displays a fixed green luminaire marking the starboard (right hand side) approach to the marina.{{cite web|title=Watchet Lighthouse|url=http://www.worldwidelighthouses.com/Lighthouses/English-Lighthouses/Privately-Owned/Watchet.php|publisher=Worldwide Lighthouses|access-date=11 June 2011}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|title=Watchet Lighthouse|url=http://www.lighthousedepot.com/lite_explorer.asp?action=display_details&LighthouseID=1916|publisher=Lighthouse Depot|access-date=11 June 2011}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
See also
{{stack|{{Portal|Somerset|Engineering}}}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Watchet Harbour Lighthouse|position=left}}
- [http://www.watchetmuseum.co.uk/maritime.php Watchet Museum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724032338/http://watchetmuseum.co.uk/maritime.php |date=24 July 2013 }}
{{Lighthouses in England}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Lighthouses completed in 1862
Category:Lighthouses in Somerset