St Mary's Lighthouse facts for kids
| Location | St Mary's Island Tyne and Wear England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 55°04′18″N 1°26′58″W / 55.071656°N 1.449444°W |
| Year first constructed | 1898 |
| Automated | 1982 |
| Deactivated | 1984 |
| Construction | brick tower |
| Tower shape | tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | white tower and lantern |
| Height | 46 metres (151 ft) |
| Range | 17 nmi (31 km; 20 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl(2) W 20s. |
St Mary's Lighthouse stands proudly on a small, rocky piece of land called St Mary's Island. You can find it just north of Whitley Bay on the beautiful coast of North East England. This tiny island is connected to the mainland by a short concrete path. But be careful! This path disappears under the water when the tide is high, turning the island into a true island.
Contents
A Glimpse into History: Lighting the Way
For centuries, people have used lights on St Mary's Island to guide ships. The very first light was in an old church, an 11th-century chapel. Monks from this chapel kept a lantern burning to warn ships about dangerous rocks nearby.
Building the Lighthouse
In 1664, a lighthouse was built using stones from the old chapel. This building was later taken down. The lighthouse you see today, along with the keepers' cottages, was built in 1898. Workers used 645 stone blocks and 750,000 bricks to construct it.
The Amazing Lens
The lighthouse had a special rotating lens called a 'bi-valve' Fresnel lens. This lens was made by a French company. It flashed twice every 20 seconds to create a unique light pattern.
At first, the lamp used paraffin (a type of oil) for its light. It wasn't until 1977 that the lighthouse was connected to electricity. St Mary's was actually the last lighthouse managed by Trinity House to use oil for its light!
Modernizing the Light
When the lighthouse was electrified, the original large lens was removed. It was later put on display in a museum. A new, modern light system was installed. This system used a four-tier revolving lamp powered by batteries. These batteries were charged by the main electricity supply.
When the Light Went Out: Decommissioning
St Mary's Lighthouse stopped being a working lighthouse in 1984. This happened two years after it was made automatic. The modern light system was later moved and used on another light platform in the North Sea. This new platform became the first major lighthouse to run on solar power!
A few years after it stopped working, the local council opened St Mary's Lighthouse as a place for visitors. A smaller lens from another lighthouse was brought in to replace the original one. You can still see this lens at the top of the tower today.
In 2011, the original large lens was brought back to St Mary's Island. It is now on display for everyone to see.
St Mary's Lighthouse Today: A Place to Explore
Since 2012, St Mary's Lighthouse has been a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historical site.
Even though it no longer guides ships, the lighthouse is a popular spot for visitors. You can easily reach it when the tide is out. It's regularly open, offering a chance to climb the tower. There's also a small museum, a visitor center, and a café.
In 2017, a plan to renovate the site was turned down because of worries about the environment. Another plan was suggested in 2018, which included rebuilding the original lens. However, funding for this project was not approved.
You can find another old lighthouse, Souter Lighthouse, a few miles south of the River Tyne. Like St Mary's, Souter Lighthouse is also no longer working but is open to visitors. You can even see Souter Lighthouse from the top of St Mary's Lighthouse on a clear day!
See also
- List of lighthouses in England
