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In September 2003 I was allowed, in the company of the Association of Lighthouse Keepers, complete access to the disused lighthouse at Spurn Point. This lighthouse was built in 1895 and replaced Smeaton's 1776 to 1895 light; the base of which can be seen next to this one. Spurn Point lighthouse was made redundant in 1985 and has remained empty for almost 20 years. Comments are written under the photographs with the tour starting from the left.
Although you approach the lighthouse along the long track on the shingle spur, as the tide was out I took this photograph to include the old disused Smeaton's Low light with an old water tank replacing the lantern room. Next is the old lighthouse; then my wife standing patiently in front of the welcoming open doors and then a close up of the Trinity House coat of arms above the door.
Once inside you can see how nicely the wooden inner doors and overhead window is preserved. You can also see how dark the inside of the lighthouse was. All was empty inside and the spiral stone stairs take you up to the next floor with the central metal column starting here and going all the way up to the lantern room.
The first window is broken as a result of heavy gales etc and not vandalism as it is too far away from civilisation and not ground floor level. Birds and other creatures have gained access through the broken windows and their mess accounts for some of the rubbish on the stairs as we continue upwards.
Flaking paint litters the floor of the first room that we find. All rooms were completely stripped of any fittings and only the shell of a room remained.
The next room up used to contain a fixed light in line with Smeaton's light - hence the reason why this room was painted completely black all over inside. As we continue you can see how beautifully preserved the doors are on the landing to each room.
On the final floor before the lamp room you can see the continuing central metal column that contains the weight for the clock work mechanism for turning the lens. The inspection door is rusted open. Although the woodwork is still in good condition the walls are deteriorating rapidly as paint flakes and mildew sets in. These final steep steps, despite covered with pigeon droppings, take you up to the lantern room.
Although the lens is no longer here (You can see that at the lighthouse museum in Penzance) the old steps to the lens inspection platform are here. Previous visitors have taken the brass compass bearing points from off the walls and the brass plaque over the gallery door has gone as well.
Once out onto the gallery you get some splendid views. Here you can see the end of the spit and get a better idea of the relationship of Smeaton's old light to this one.
As you can deduce some of the shots are taken through the lantern room glass and some are taken from the gallery. Here the two long distance centre views are looking back over the long and lonely rough track 'toll road' through the nature reserve used to get us here whilst the 'aerial' shot on the right, taken at about 128 feet up, shows where the old keepers cottages used to be. It does not show up well in a photograph but the location and remains can easily be identified on the ground.