Name and Location

The Old Higher Lighthouse, also known as the Upper Lighthouse, is situated at Higher Light Lane, Portland Bill, Portland DT5 2JT, England, UK, with coordinates 50.5222969 N, -2.4564125 W.

Construction and History

Built in 1716 by Trinity House to warn shipping of the treacherous Portland Race and surrounding ledges, the Old Higher Lighthouse was first lit in 1717. It served its purpose until being decommissioned in 1869 when a pair of new lighthouses took over duties.

Architecture and Materials

The tower is constructed from local Portland stone rubble with brick dressings, originally painted white. The style is characteristic of Georgian functional maritime architecture, with a tapered cylindrical form featuring a single gallery platform at the top (lantern removed). The height of the tower stands roughly 12–15 m tall.

Light and Navigation

Originally, the lighthouse exhibited a fixed white light, later changed to a revolving lens. It was initially fueled by coal brazier and later oil lamp with reflectors, with an estimated range of approximately 8–10 nautical miles.

Accessibility and Visiting

• The Old Higher Lighthouse is not open to the public; however, it can be viewed from public footpaths.
• Visitors may access the surrounding landscape via the South West Coast Path or by car, parking at the Portland Bill turn and walking along Higher Light Lane for 5 minutes.

Notable Views and Landscape

Panoramic vistas over Lyme Bay to the east, Chesil Beach to the west, and the English Channel shipping lanes offer breathtaking views from this location.

Anecdotes and Folklore

• Local lore speaks of 18th-century shipwreck survivors being guided ashore by the coal brazier's glow.
• Speculation also suggests a ghostly keeper wandering the cliff edge on stormy nights.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse was staffed continuously from 1716 until automation became impractical, with keepers last lit manually until closure in 1869. Automation was never fully implemented; instead, it was decommissioned when new lighthouses took over duties.

Further Information

References: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Higher_Lighthouse, Q7084211 on Wikidata, Trinity House archives (historical service records), and "Lighthouses of England and Wales" by J. Dean (Historic England Publications).