Burnham-on-Sea High Lighthouse
Encyclopedia
The High lighthouse or pillar lighthouse
is one of three lighthouses in Burnham-on-Sea
, Somerset
, England. A Grade II listed building, it is no longer functional as a lighthouse and has been used as a private dwelling.
Burnham-on-Sea is notable for its beach and mudflats, which are characteristic of Bridgwater Bay
and the rest of the Bristol Channel
where the tide can recede for over 1.5 miles (2.4 km). Burnham is close to the estuary of the River Parrett
where it flows into the Bristol Channel, which has the second highest tidal range
in the world of 15 metres (49.2 ft), second only to Bay of Fundy
in Eastern Canada
. The constantly shifting sands have always been a significant risk to shipping in the area.
The 30 metres (98.4 ft) pillar or High Lighthouse was designed and built by Joseph Nelson for Trinity House, in the 1830s and equipped with a paraffin lamp, which shone through a half-gallery under a window. It was used in conjunction with the Low lighthouse
, which is still operating, to replace the original Round Tower Lighthouse
, which itself had been built to replace the light kept burning in the tower of St Andrews Church
to guide fishing boats into the harbour.
The ground floor was 5 metres (16.4 ft) in diameter and the top room 3 metres (9.8 ft). It was automated in 1920.
In the 1990s it was deactivated and sold by Trinity House and bought by a member of the Rothschild family
. The red stripe on the building is still used as a day range.
The Rothschild family
owned it until 1996 when it was bought at auction by Patrick O'Hagan. Conversion for residential use included the removal of the 6th floor and the construction of stairs where there had previously only been ladders.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
is one of three lighthouses in Burnham-on-Sea
Burnham-on-Sea
Burnham-on-Sea is a town in Somerset, England, at the mouth of the River Parrett and Bridgwater Bay. Burnham was a small village until the late 18th century, when it began to grow because of its popularity as a seaside resort. It forms part of the parish of Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England. A Grade II listed building, it is no longer functional as a lighthouse and has been used as a private dwelling.
Burnham-on-Sea is notable for its beach and mudflats, which are characteristic of Bridgwater Bay
Bridgwater Bay
Bridgwater Bay is on the Bristol Channel, north of Bridgwater in Somerset, England at the mouth of the River Parrett and the end of the River Parrett Trail. It consists of large areas of mud flats, saltmarsh, sandflats and shingle ridges, some of which are vegetated...
and the rest of the Bristol Channel
Bristol Channel
The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It extends from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
where the tide can recede for over 1.5 miles (2.4 km). Burnham is close to the estuary of the River Parrett
River Parrett
The River Parrett flows through the counties of Dorset and Somerset in South West England, from its source in the Thorney Mills springs in the hills around Chedington in Dorset...
where it flows into the Bristol Channel, which has the second highest tidal range
Tidal range
The tidal range is the vertical difference between the high tide and the succeeding low tide. Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun and the rotation of the Earth...
in the world of 15 metres (49.2 ft), second only to Bay of Fundy
Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy is a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine...
in Eastern Canada
Eastern Canada
Eastern Canada is generally considered to be the region of Canada east of Manitoba, consisting of the following provinces:* New Brunswick* Newfoundland and Labrador* Nova Scotia* Ontario* Prince Edward Island* Quebec...
. The constantly shifting sands have always been a significant risk to shipping in the area.
The 30 metres (98.4 ft) pillar or High Lighthouse was designed and built by Joseph Nelson for Trinity House, in the 1830s and equipped with a paraffin lamp, which shone through a half-gallery under a window. It was used in conjunction with the Low lighthouse
Burnham-on-Sea Low lighthouse
The Low lighthouse is one of three lighthouses in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, England and the only one which is still active. It is a Grade II listed building....
, which is still operating, to replace the original Round Tower Lighthouse
Burnham-on-Sea Round Tower
The Round Tower was a lighthouse in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, England. It is now a private dwelling.Burnham-on-Sea is notable for its beach and mudflats, which are characteristic of Bridgwater Bay and the rest of the Bristol Channel where the tide can recede for over...
, which itself had been built to replace the light kept burning in the tower of St Andrews Church
St Andrew's Church, Burnham-on-Sea
St Andrew's Church is the Church of England parish church of Burnham-on-Sea in the English county of Somerset. Of medieval origins, the church is a grade I listed building, well known for its leaning tower.-History:...
to guide fishing boats into the harbour.
The ground floor was 5 metres (16.4 ft) in diameter and the top room 3 metres (9.8 ft). It was automated in 1920.
In the 1990s it was deactivated and sold by Trinity House and bought by a member of the Rothschild family
Rothschild family
The Rothschild family , known as The House of Rothschild, or more simply as the Rothschilds, is a Jewish-German family that established European banking and finance houses starting in the late 18th century...
. The red stripe on the building is still used as a day range.
The Rothschild family
Rothschild family
The Rothschild family , known as The House of Rothschild, or more simply as the Rothschilds, is a Jewish-German family that established European banking and finance houses starting in the late 18th century...
owned it until 1996 when it was bought at auction by Patrick O'Hagan. Conversion for residential use included the removal of the 6th floor and the construction of stairs where there had previously only been ladders.