Name and Location

The High Lighthouse, also known as Harwich High Light, is located at 80 West Street, Harwich CO12 3DQ, Essex, England, UK. The coordinates are 51.9444596 N, 1.2886354 E.

Construction and History

The High Lighthouse was constructed in the early 19th century and completed in 1818. It serves as one of a pair of leading lights guiding vessels into Harwich Harbour and the confluence of the Rivers Stour and Orwell. The designer/architect is speculated to be John Rennie the Elder.

Architecture and Materials

The High Lighthouse is a tapering cylindrical tower with an attached keeper's house, made of a brick and stone core rendered and painted white (traditionally with a red lantern). The height of the tower is 11 m above ground level.

Light and Navigation

The High Lighthouse is managed by Trinity House. Its light characteristic is fixed red (F R) with a range of 30 nautical miles. It serves as an upper (high) range light in a vertical leading system, fully automated and unmanned.

Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse is located on the western side of West Street, Harwich town centre, opposite the Low Lighthouse at 24 George Street. Public access is limited to exterior views only; occasional open-day access may be available through Harwich Society events. The nearest attraction is the Ha'penny Pier.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse offers views of the river estuary, North Sea, Dovercourt Bay, Harwich quayside, and historic waterfront.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local lore tells of a keeper's ghostly cat heard at night – an unverified story. The lighthouse also served as an observation post during World War II.

Technical and Operational Details

The High Lighthouse was upgraded from oil lamps to gas in the mid-19th century, then to electric light in the early 20th century. It became automated around the 1960s.

For further information, please refer to Wikipedia, Trinity House website – Harwich Lighthouses overview, "Harwich High & Low Lights" in Lighthouse Digest magazine, Vol. 39 (2011), UK Listed Buildings entry: High Lighthouse, Harwich (Grade II), and Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals, Volume 1 (NP 76).