High Lighthouse (EHER 3390)

Harwich High Lighthouse is a brick built lighthouse situated towards the south eastern corner of the historic town of Harwich. It is a Grade II* Listed Building and was constructed in 1818 as one of a pair of leading lights signalling the safe approach to Harwich Harbour. The nine-sided High Lighthouse is constructed in a mixture of stock brick and purpose-made angle bricks (both of the same yellow fabric) and tapers upwards to a height of 14 metres. It contains seven floors linked by a wooden staircase which forms a spiral round the inner face of the tower. The lamp room at the top has three recessed window panes and is surmounted by a stone 'tent' roof braced with iron bars and topped by a lotus finial containing the flue for the oil lamp. The lamp assembly has long since been removed. The lighthouse was commissioned by General Rebow and built by John Rennie the Elder to the designs of Daniel Asher Alexander, Architect and Surveyor to the London Docks and Trinity House. After passing from the control of Trinity House into the care of Tendring District Council, the lighthouse was adapted to house a television and wireless museum in the late 1980s. It is a Scheduled monument.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Lighthouse designed by John Rennie and built in 1818 as part of a pair with the Harwich Low Light (see EHER 58). <1> - <4> The High Lighthouse, West Street was designed by Daniel Asher Alexander and erected by John Rennie the Elder in 1818. It is stock brick-built with stone dressings and a tall nine sided tapering shaft. The light opening is on the southeast facade with irregularly placed windows around the tower <5>- <7>. The lighthouse was situated towards the south eastern corner of the historic town of Harwich. It is a Grade II* Listed Building and was constructed in 1818 as one of a pair of leading lights signalling the safe approach to Harwich Harbour. The nine-sided High Lighthouse is constructed in a mixture of stock brick and purpose-made angle bricks (both of the same yellow fabric) and tapers upwards to a height of 14 metres. It contains seven floors linked by a wooden staircase which forms a spiral round the inner face of the tower. The lamp room at the top has three recessed window panes and is surmounted by a stone 'tent' roof braced with iron bars and topped by a lotus finial containing the flue for the oil lamp. The lamp assembly has long since been removed. The lighthouse was commissioned by General Rebow and built by John Rennie the Elder to the designs of Daniel Asher Alexander, Architect and Surveyor to the London Docks and Trinity House. After passing from the control of Trinity House into the care of Tendring District Council, the lighthouse was adapted to house a television and wireless museum in the late 1980s. It is a Scheduled monument. <8> <9>