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South Foreland Lighthouse, Kent

South Foreland Lighthouse near Dover is an attractive Victorian building, which ended its life as a working facility in 1990. It is visible evidence of the hidden dangers of this lovely coastline. A few miles out to sea lies the Goodwin Sands where many ships have been lost.

Visiting the South Foreland Lighthouse I was struck by the incongruity of a lighthouse sitting on what many tourist signs termed "Frontline Britain." In the Second World War this coastline stood less than thirty miles from occupied France. Frontline Britain recalls a time when this coastline was a closed frontier. But a lighthouse has a different mission. A lighthouse is about communication, warning sailors in the night that danger is nearby. South Foreland Lighthouse has a particular association with communication, since it was used by Marconi to experiment with radio messages. The world's first ship to shore radio transmission took place on Christmas Eve 1898, when South Foreland received a message from East Goodwin lightship. In 1899 the lighthouse exchanged the first international radio messages with Wimereux near Boulogne in France.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View over the English Channel from South Foreland Lighthouse

Frontline Britain stands in contrast to such communication, as illustrated by the fact that the lighthouse was shut down in the Second World War. The only time it was used during war time was in 1942 when two German battle cruisers, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, made a run up the English Channel under cover of bad weather. British aircraft were sent to intercept, and the lighthouse was used to try and guide the aircraft home.

South Foreland Lighthouse is owned by the National Trust, and visits are by guided tour, which run throughout opening hours. There are beautiful views over the English Channel from a gallery around the light.

 

 

Address: South Foreland Lighthouse, The Front, St Margaret's Bay, Dover, Kent CT15 6HP

 

 

 

Opening Times: Opening days varies according to season.

12th to 28th March Friday to Monday

29th March to 18th April daily.

19th April to 30th May Friday to Monday.

31st May to 6th June daily.

7th June to 25th July Friday to Monday.

26th July to 5th September daily.

6th September to 24th October Friday to Monday.

25th October to 31st October daily.

Opening hours are always 11am to 5.30pm. Last tour 5pm.

 

Cliff top path leading to South Foreland Lighthouse

Directions: You will not be able to drive to South Foreland Lighthouse. To reach the lighthouse I suggest parking at St Margaret's Bay and following the cliff top path back towards Dover. This is a beautiful walk taking about twenty minutes. Inclines are steep in places. Click here for an interactive road and satellite map centred on South Foreland Lighthouse.

Access: This is a difficult building for those with mobility problems. There is a photo album tour. The grounds are partly accessible, but there are some steep slopes. For those with sight problems there is a Braille and large print guide.

 

 

 

 

Contact:

telephone: 01304 852463

fax: 01304 215484

e-mail: southforeland@nationaltrust.org.uk