Portland Breakwater Lighthouse, Dorset facts for kids
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| The Portland Breakwater Lighthouse in 2017 | |
 Portland Breakwater Lighthouse
Location in Dorset
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| Location | Isle of Portland Dorset England |
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| Coordinates | 50°35′09″N 2°25′04″W / 50.585854°N 2.417830°W |
| Year first constructed | 1905 |
| Construction | cast iron skeletal tower |
| Tower shape | hexagonal pyramidal tower with central cylinder, balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | white tower and lantern |
| Height | 22 metres (72 ft) |
| Focal height | 22 metres (72 ft) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 10s. |
| Admiralty number | A0314 |
| NGA number | 0464 |
| ARLHS number | ENG-107 |
The Portland Breakwater Lighthouse is a working lighthouse in England. It stands at the southern end of the north-east breakwater in Portland Harbour, on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. Lighthouses help ships find their way and avoid danger. This lighthouse warns sailors about the breakwaters.
Contents
History of the Portland Breakwater Lighthouse
This lighthouse was built in 1905. It is a white, six-sided structure made of cast-iron. A company called Chance Brothers built it. When it first started, its light flashed white every five seconds. You could see its light from about 14 nautical miles away.
The lighthouse also had a special fog bell. This bell would ring once every ten seconds when the weather was foggy. This helped ships know where the breakwater was even when they couldn't see the light.
How the Light Changed Over Time
At first, the lighthouse used oil to power its light. Later, it was changed to use gas. Today, the light is electric and uses a modern LED lamp. This makes it very bright and efficient.
The Admiralty (the part of the government that managed the navy) used to own the lighthouse. Trinity House managed it. They even had three keepers who lived nearby on the breakwater. These keepers made sure the light was always working. The lighthouse became automated in the late 1960s. This meant it could run by itself without keepers.
Restoration and New Ownership
In 1995, the lighthouse was cleaned and repainted. This happened before the Portland Naval Base closed. After the naval base closed, the lighthouse became owned by Portland Port Ltd. The Portland Harbour Authority now manages it.
The lighthouse was restored again in 2016. It still helps boats navigate safely in the area. It flashes a white light every 10 seconds to warn ships about the breakwaters. You can also see old defensive buildings, like pillboxes, around the lighthouse. The old lens from the lighthouse is now on display at Weymouth Museum.
Life as a Lighthouse Keeper
Being a lighthouse keeper was a very important job. It was also a lot of hard work. In 1966, a former keeper named John Trotter worked at the Portland Breakwater Lighthouse. He shared some memories of his time there.
He said keepers lived in a building near the light tower. They had to climb up to the light every two hours during the night. This was to wind up the lens and pump oil to the lamp. The breakwater was home to many rats. When keepers went out at night, the rats would run away from their flashlights. Keepers took turns going ashore for one morning each week.
