185 year-old lighthouse gets a revamp

YORK-based Lanstone Conservation has completed an £86,000 investment project to restore the West Pier lighthouse in Whitby and plans are now underway to re-open the structure to the public for the first time in four years.

Partly funded by a £50,000 grant from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Coastal Revival Fund, work has involved repairs to areas of the external stone work, internal works to glazing, windows and the staircase and also steelwork reinforcing.

Harbour funds have been invested to make up the balance of funding required for the project. This will be offset by income generated from reopening the lighthouse to the public.

The project was carried out by restoration and preservation contractor Lanstone Conservation, which specialises in the restoration and repair of historical and listed buildings.

Coun Joe Plant of Scarborough Borough Council, said “The lighthouse plays a very important part in Whitby’s attraction as a centre for culture and heritage and crucially, the DCLG funding has allowed us to realise our aspiration to regenerate it and return it to its former glory. We are delighted with the results of the restoration work and we hope local residents and visitors to the town will be too.”

The West Pier lighthouse was built in 1831 from locally quarried stone. It stands 22 metres tall and is around 2.5 metres in diameter. It served as a navigational aid to shipping with its light visible for more than 10 miles up until 1914 when its function was replaced by more modern navigational aids.

However, the building itself remained and in 1972 the lighthouse became a Grade II listed structure. The lighthouse was open to the public as a historic attraction up until its closure in 2012 due to its serious deterioration.

Oliver Councell, project manager, Lanstone Conservation, said: “Restoring such a landmark building has been really exciting. We have renewed the perimeter railings to the light box and undertaken significant structural and refurbishment works. Whilst it was always challenging working within the confines of such an historic building, it is very satisfying to think that it will now be there for future generations and that visitors can again climb up and enjoy the view.”