Souter Lighthouse

Souter Lighthouse
Souter Lighthouse viewed from the south-west.
Map
LocationWhitburn, Tyne and Wear[1][2]
OS gridNZ4080764169
Coordinates54°58′14″N 1°21′51″W / 54.9705°N 1.36409°W / 54.9705; -1.36409
Tower
Constructed1871 Edit this on Wikidata
Constructionbrick (tower) Edit this on Wikidata
Height23 m (75 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
Shapecylinder Edit this on Wikidata
Markingswhite (tower), red (stripe), red (lantern) Edit this on Wikidata
OperatorTrinity House (–1988), National Trust (1990–) Edit this on Wikidata
HeritageGrade II* listed building Edit this on Wikidata
Fog signalOne blast every 30s
Light
First lit11 January 1871 Edit this on Wikidata
Deactivated1988 Edit this on Wikidata
Lensthird order Fresnel lens (1871–1914), first order Fresnel lens (1914–) Edit this on Wikidata
Range26 nmi (48 km; 30 mi) Edit this on Wikidata
CharacteristicFl R 5s Edit this on Wikidata

Souter Lighthouse is a lighthouse located to the North of Whitburn, South Tyneside, England.[1][2] (It was generally known as Souter Point Lighthouse when in service). Souter Point was the first lighthouse in the world to be actually designed and built specifically to use alternating electric current, the most advanced lighthouse technology of its day. The light was generated by a carbon arc lamp: first lit on 11 January 1871,[3] it was described at the time as 'without doubt one of the most powerful lights in the world'.[4][5]

After being decommissioned by Trinity House (the national lighthouse authority) in 1988, Souter Lighthouse was acquired by the National Trust, who now manage it as a visitor attraction with holiday lets.[1]

  1. ^ a b c "Souter Lighthouse and the Leas". National Trust. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Souter Lighthouse". Visit South Tyneside. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Douglass1879 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Elliot1875 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Northeastern England". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 26 April 2016.