Withernsea Lighthouse

Withernsea Lighthouse was established in 1894. Its distinctive tower dominates the centre of the town and skyline, located on Hull Road. Originally, it stood close to the dunes, but as the town developed, the promenade was added to the seafront and houses grew up around it. It was built with foresight and set back to avoid coastal erosion.

The lighthouse was built to warn vessels of the dangers along this stretch of coast. Ships often could not see the lights of Flamborough Head or Spurn Lighthouse, and so Withernsea filled the gap.

Up to the mid-nineteenth century, only two main lighthouses marked the Holderness coast: Flamborough Head and Spurn Point, located 40 miles apart. During north and north-easterly gales, ships were often swept towards land, leading to numerous wrecks along the coastline between the two lights. Shipowners and merchants campaigned to Trinity House for an additional light between them.

In 1877, Withernsea Pier was completed. On 28th October 1880, around fifty ships were driven ashore along the coast. One of these was a small fishing smack, the Jabez, which struck the end of the pier with the loss of all four crew. Similarly, the coal barque Saffron, bound for Sunderland from Southampton, turned back towards the Humber for shelter after its sails were ripped. It too struck the pier, though fortunately, the crew survived. The pier, however, was severely damaged.

Withernsea Pier was quickly repaired with wooden piles, but in 1882, during a spring storm, it was damaged again by another vessel. Further casualties followed, and after the vessel Genesta reduced the pier’s length to just 90 yards, a steel ship hit the pier on 3rd March 1893, reducing it to only its entrance towers.

Following this destruction, Trinity House agreed to establish a lighthouse at Withernsea.

Work began in 1892. Built of brick and concrete, the tapering octagonal tower rose to 127 feet, with a spiral staircase of 144 steps inside. A large dwelling was built for the lighthouse keepers and their families, divided into two cottages, each with a door opening onto the corridor that connected to the tower.

The tower was originally powered by an eight-wick paraffin lamp inside a third-order Chance Brothers optic. It was wound by hand, with a weight falling through a tube in the centre of the tower.

Withernsea Lighthouse was established on 1st March 1894 and worked alongside the Humber Lightvessel, helping guide ships along the east coast and into the Humber estuary.

Two keepers were stationed there at first. The Principal was William J. Rees, son of a lighthouse keeper, who had been born at Caldey Island. Having transferred from South Stack Lighthouse in Anglesey, Withernsea became his last posting; he remained there until his retirement in 1911. His Assistant, Mr. W. Robins, transferred from St Bees Lighthouse and served at Withernsea until 1901.

The new “middle” light was so effective that the Withernsea Lifeboat was withdrawn from service in May 1913. The light was electrified in 1936 and continued its character of one flash every three seconds.

From the 1920s, Trinity House began to review staffing arrangements. Some lighthouses became unwatched, and others were converted to “Keeper and Wife” stations. Withernsea became one of these, with a relief keeper covering holidays or illness.

The east dwelling was sold off in 1940, and the keeper and his wife lived in the west cottage. At that time, the connecting door to the east cottage was sealed, and an emergency generator was placed in front of it. An outbuilding in the garden was converted to house a supernumerary (trainee) keeper.

During the Second World War, the light was extinguished, and only shown on instruction to assist Allied naval movements.

Withernsea Lighthouse was decommissioned on 1st July 1976. The optic and machinery were removed and later relocated to St Mary’s Lighthouse, Tyneside.

In the 1970s, changing employment practices meant more keepers were needed to cover shifts at offshore stations. This created a shortage of accommodation, and Withernsea was used as a shore station for keepers from Inner Dowsing Lighthouse.

Lighthouse Keeper Harold Taylor transferred from St Catherine’s Lighthouse on the Isle of Wight to Inner Dowsing in 1983. Though Inner Dowsing is about 32 miles from Withernsea, he lived at the lighthouse and travelled via Trinity House’s Great Yarmouth Depot. From there, he took a minibus to Cromer Lighthouse for helicopter reliefs.

Harold was the last lighthouse keeper to live at Withernsea. He departed in 1985, and the following year the lighthouse was put up for sale. It was bought by Dr Rolla C Campbell and his wife Kim, sister of 1950s film star Kay Kendall. They later purchased the east cottage as well.

The Campbells established the Withernsea Lighthouse Trust, opening a museum in 1989. The lighthouse contains local history displays, including information about the Withernsea and Humber Lifeboats.

The visitor centre also houses a café and a museum commemorating the life of actress Kay Kendall. Born in 1926, she lived close to Withernsea Lighthouse. Her mother was also born in Withernsea, and her father, Robert Drewery, was involved in digging the lighthouse foundations. Kendall often returned to her hometown but tragically died of leukaemia in 1959.

Withernsea Lighthouse is open to the public throughout the summer. From the top, on a clear day, visitors can see as far as the Humber Bridge.