Happisburgh Low Lighthouse?

Happisburgh Low Lighthouse was lit on 1 Jan 1791 (along with the current lighthouse) but because of cliff erosion, was demolished in June 1883. Many locals have said the remains can still be seen. I have seen these bricks on the beach for years but I was not convinced. The location was correct but many houses have gone over the cliffs in the past 15 years, so could have been bricks from them washed along the beach. I do have a 1980 picture in a book of some brick foundations poking out of the cliff edge.

The day I took this video, some large chunks of bricks had been uncovered by the sand. Curved in nature, 1 1/2 meters thick and dressed on the inside curve, they match a profile for a 74 feet high lighthouse. Although no known pictures or drawings exist, I am quite convinced they are the lower bricks/foundations/celler of the demolished Happisburgh Low Lighthouse. The lantern removed was used on the then under construction lighthouse at Southwold.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Happisburgh
• lighthouse
• coast
• erosion
• sea

[jane1975]

Great footage Des, btw happy new year to you:) Thanks for sharing,shame it was demolished.

[hellooldchap]

Not a lot of choice when it was about to topple over the cliff. I think a few Scottish lights have been demolished like this recently to avoid falling into the sea.

[Umpqua1012]

Hey Des; that's clearly an archaeological find!

[jane1975]

I guess, I haven't heard anything on that, the ones I have seen look pretty sturdy.

[LighthousesUK]

Very good!