Name and Location

Gorleston (Range Rear) Lighthouse is an active rear-range light located on the south bank of the River Yare, at the eastern end of Quay Road in Gorleston-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. The address is 17a Quay Road, Gorleston-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth NR31 6PJ, United Kingdom.

Construction and History

The lighthouse was constructed in the late 19th or early 20th century (exact year not recorded). Its official name is Gorleston (Range Rear) Lighthouse. The architect/designer is not documented, but it is known to be a metal (steel) tower painted white.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse has a slender cylindrical column with a small service room at the top; no traditional lantern house. The height of the tower is 7 meters. Its heritage status is not listed.

Light and Navigation

The Gorleston Range Rear Lighthouse functions as a rear light, working in conjunction with a smaller front range light to guide vessels into the port of Great Yarmouth. It has an occulting white light characteristic, with a group of 4 + 2 occultations every 6 seconds (Oc(4+2) W 6 s). The focal height is approximately 7 meters above ground level.

Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse is not open to the public and is situated on private quayside. No visitor facilities are onsite. However, it can be best viewed from the quayside promenade at the eastern end of Gorleston beach or from the car park at Gorleston Quay.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse overlooks an industrial-maritime quayside adjacent to fishing and pleasure-craft moorings on the River Yare. From here, one can view Gorleston beach to the North Sea.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Fishermen and small-boat skippers have long relied on the precise alignment of the front and rear range lights to thread the narrow channel into Great Yarmouth harbour at night or in reduced visibility. While there are no widely known folklore stories specifically about the Rear Range light, it forms part of the town's rich maritime heritage.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is fully automated and does not have a resident keeper. It has a nominal range of 10 nautical miles and is managed by Great Yarmouth Port Authority (minor lights).

Further Information

For more information, please consult UK Hydrographic Office, ADMIRALTY List of Lights & Fog Signals, Volume K (English Channel and North Sea), United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Publication 114 "List of Lights, Radio Aids, and Fog Signals," entry A 2306.1, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorleston_(Range_Rear)_Lighthouse, or OpenStreetMap: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/223802990.