Dungeness (1904)

Dungeness has a rich and interesting history in regard to lighthouses, with multiple lights having been built here since at least 1615, ranging from primitive beacons and open fires in braziers atop the earliest towers, right through to some of the first electric lights used for maritime navigation anywhere in the world and the testing of automation systems that would go on to replace keepers throughout the world.

This lighthouse, constructed in 1904 to designs by Sir Thomas Matthews and now often referred to simply as ‘the old lighthouse’ was built to replace Samuel Wyatt’s 1792 tower that was located in the centre of the circular accommodation block that stands nearby.

Wyatt’s tower had originally been lit by Argand lamps, but on 1 February 1862 became the first lighthouse in the world to exhibit an electric light on a permanent basis, however teething problems with the technology and the cost of operating the light at the time lead to Trinity House replacing the carbon arc lamp with a multi wick oil burner on 1 October 1875.

Matthew’s tower was the first on Dungeness to be designed for Trinity House, with all prior to it having been operated as private concerns. Originally it had been intended to build the tower nearer the end of the spit, which was growing as more shingle was deposited, however issues with the proposed locations ground not being suitable for foundations lead to the tower instead being built just 40 meters from where the old lighthouse stood.

At 41 meters in height, the lighthouse was built using over 3 million engineering bricks and was opened by the Prince of Wales (later becoming King George V) on March 31st of that year - Wyatt's tower was demolished almost immediately after. This is one of very few lighthouses designed by Sir Thomas Matthews to have a conical roof rather than a domed one, and inside features handrails much more ornate than seen in most other Trinity House lighthouses.

In 1920 the light became the first to be lit using a Paraffin Vapour Burner, which remained the source of illumination up till the lighthouse was decommissioned - this technology would go on to be rolled out across many other Trinity House lighthouses.

Development of Dungeness nuclear power station began in 1960 with the portion now known as Dungeness 'A', and with the construction of the large reactor buildings, it was clear that from certain angles the light house would be obscured, so in 1961 a new lighthouse was built 440 meters to the East and the 1904 lighthouse was extinguished for the last time on 20th December 1961.

The old Lighthouse has now existed in its preserved state for longer than it was in service, however it still retains the vast majority of its lighting apparatus, including all of the sector light panels, the main catadioptric lens, the clockwork mechanism that drove it, as well as the Paraffin Vapour Burner that provided the light source. It is a remarkably complete time capsule, and with the power stations now going through long-term decommissioning, it is likely it will outlast the buildings that rendered it obsolete.