West Usk Lighthouse facts for kids
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| West Usk Lighthouse, 2013 | |
 West Usk Lighthouse
Location in Wales
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| Location | Uskmouth Newport Wales United Kingdom |
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| Coordinates | 51°32′26″N 2°59′41″W / 51.54061°N 2.99465°W |
| Year first constructed | 1821 |
| Deactivated | 1922 |
| Construction | brick tower |
| Tower shape | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern rising from a 2-storey keeper’s house |
| Markings / pattern | white tower and lantern |
| Height | 17 metres (56 ft) |
| ARLHS number | WAL-032 |
The West Usk Lighthouse is a special old building, listed as 'Grade II'. This means it's an important historical place. It stands on the Severn Estuary, right where the River Usk meets the sea. You can find it near the city of Newport in South Wales.
History of the Lighthouse
The West Usk Lighthouse was built in 1821. It was the very first lighthouse designed by a famous Scottish engineer named James Walker. He went on to build 21 more lighthouses after this one!
When it was first built, the lighthouse stood on its own island. But over time, the land around it was changed into farmland. This happened through a process called land reclamation. By 1856, it was no longer on an island. The lighthouse stopped being used to guide ships in 1922.
The Lighthouse Today
Today, the West Usk Lighthouse has a new purpose. It operates as a unique hotel where people can stay.
The lighthouse has even been featured on television!
- In July 2008, it appeared on a TV show called The Hotel Inspector on Channel 5.
- In 2020, it was seen in an episode of the famous science fiction show Doctor Who. The episode was called "Fugitive of the Judoon".
How to Visit
If you want to visit the lighthouse, there are a couple of ways to get there. Hotel guests can use a private road that comes off the B4239 (Lighthouse Road). You can also walk to the lighthouse. There's a path along the sea wall that is about 1 kilometre (0.6 miles) long. This path starts from the car park of the Lighthouse Inn on Beach Road.
