Teignmouth Lighthouse
Teignmouth lighthouse is a lighthouse situated on the south end of the Den promenade at Teignmouth, Devon, England. It is paired with a red polycarbonate leading light at Powderham Terrace behind the lighthouse.[1] It has been a Grade II listed building since 1949.[2]
 View of the lighthouse looking inland | |
  Teignmouth Lighthouse Location within Devon | |
| |
| Location | Teignmouth |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 50.542474°N 3.496847°W |
| Year first lit | 1845 |
| Construction | Limestone |
| Tower shape | Cylindrical |
| Focal height | 10 metre  |
| Range | 6 nautical mile |
| Characteristic | F R |
| Heritage | Grade II listed building |
History
The entrance to the River Teign has dangerous currents, rocks and shifting sands, posing a danger to vessels and thus was deemed to require a navigational aid. Under the Harbour Commissioners, planning for the lighthouse commenced in the early 1840s.[3] The limestone lighthouse tower was built in 1844–1845 and came into service in 1845.[1] It was lit by three gas burners, with reflectors, and showed a fixed red light (with a range of 7 nautical miles) to guide ships to the mouth of the harbour.[4]
The lighthouse is currently maintained by the Harbour Master and continues to guide vessels through the channel's sand bars into the harbour.
References
- "Lighthouse Compendium". www.mycetes.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-12-02.
- Historic England. "LIGHTHOUSE, Teignmouth (1269045)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 2018-12-02.
- "Teignmouth - The Lighthouse". www.devonheritage.org. Retrieved 2018-12-02.
- "Lighthouse management : the report of the Royal Commissioners on Lights, Buoys, and Beacons, 1861, examined and refuted Vol. 2". p. 366.