Belle Tout Lighthouse facts for kids
| Location | Beachy Head East Sussex England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 50°44′18″N 0°12′54″E / 50.738216°N 0.214985°E |
| Year first constructed | 1832 |
| Year first lit | 1834 |
| Deactivated | 1902 |
| Construction | stone tower |
| Tower shape | Cylindrical tower design with balcony and lantern |
| Height | 14 metres (46 ft) |
The Belle Tout Lighthouse (sometimes spelled Belle Toute) is a famous old lighthouse located near Beachy Head in East Sussex, England. It's known for its amazing location and has even been seen in movies and TV shows! In 1999, this historic building was actually moved to stop it from falling into the sea due to coastal erosion.
Contents
About Belle Tout Lighthouse
Why Was It Built?
For many years, the cliffs near Beachy Head were very dangerous for ships. Lots of shipwrecks happened there in the 1600s and early 1700s. People started asking for a lighthouse as early as 1691.
However, nothing was done for over 100 years. Then, a large ship called The Thames crashed into the rocks. This accident finally made people realize how important a lighthouse was.
Trinity House, which is in charge of lighthouses in England, agreed to help. A local Member of Parliament, John 'Mad Jack' Fuller, also used his influence and money to get the lighthouse built.
How Was It Built?
First, a temporary wooden lighthouse was put up. It started working on October 1, 1828. It had a light that spun around, shining brightly every two minutes.
The building of the permanent granite lighthouse began in 1829. It was designed by Thomas Stevenson. This new lighthouse started working on October 11, 1834. It used 30 oil lamps that spun around to create a bright light. These lamps used a lot of oil, about two gallons every hour!
Later, in 1887, the light was improved. It got newer, more powerful oil lamps. The light also spun much faster, giving a flash every fifteen seconds.
Why Did It Stop Working?
The Belle Tout Lighthouse had a few problems. Because it was high up on the cliff, sea mist and fog often hid its light. This meant ships couldn't see it from far away. Also, ships sailing too close to the cliffs couldn't see the light because the cliff itself blocked it.
Over the years, the cliffs at Beachy Head started to wear away due to coastal erosion. This made the lighthouse's position even more difficult.
So, the Belle Tout Lighthouse stopped working on October 2, 1902. A new lighthouse, called the Beachy Head Lighthouse, was built at the bottom of the cliffs instead.
What Happened Next?
After 1902, Trinity House sold the Belle Tout building. It was bought and sold by different people over the years. One owner, Sir James Purves-Stewart, built a road to the lighthouse and made improvements.
During the Second World War, the lighthouse was empty. It was damaged by Canadian artillery fire. The guns were actually aiming at wooden targets, but the lighthouse got hit by accident.
In 1948, the local council took over. They decided to fix up the lighthouse because it was so important to history. The ground floor was repaired, and a new upper floor was added. Modern facilities were also put in.
The lighthouse became quite famous! In 1986, the BBC used it for filming a TV show called The Life and Loves of a She-Devil. A year later, it appeared in the James Bond film The Living Daylights. From 1996, it was used as a family home.
The Belle Tout Lighthouse has also been featured in a song by the band Subterraneans and in the movie B Monkey. Its unique round room, where the light used to be, was even redesigned on the popular TV show Changing Rooms.
Moving the Lighthouse!
By 1999, the cliffs were eroding so much that the lighthouse was in danger of falling into the sea. Something big had to be done!
On March 17, 1999, in an amazing engineering feat, the Belle Tout Lighthouse was moved 17 metres (56 ft) away from the cliff edge. The lighthouse weighs 850 tons! It was moved using special hydraulic jacks that pushed the building along steel beams. The beams were kept slippery with grease to help the lighthouse slide.
This incredible move means the lighthouse should be safe for many years. The design also allows for it to be moved again in the future if needed.
Staying at the Lighthouse
In January 2010, the lighthouse was shown on Channel 5 in a show called Build a New Life in the Country. This program showed how the lighthouse was bought in 2008 and turned into a fancy bed and breakfast.
The Belle Tout Lighthouse was bought for £500,000. Another £700,000 was spent to restore it and make it into a place where people can stay. A new road also had to be built to reach it, as the old one was too close to the cliff.
Images for kids
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Sir James and Lady Purves-Stewart at Belle Tout in 1938.
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View from cliff side. -
View from east side. -
View from the English Channel in 2010. -
Looking east from the Round Room, with the new Beachy Head Lighthouse visible.
