How is the Lighthouse?
A question we Trustees of Orfordness Lighthouse are asked so frequently! The winter of 2017/2018 has been quite fierce with frequent Easterly winds combined
with high tides. The very cold weather and strong winds in late February/ early March took a fair bite at the defences but they did their job and the structure of the Lighthouse stands strong. Sadly
one of the exposed Victorian water tanks has now collapsed and the 1960s bungalow has been further undermined, but our main concern is the building itself and she is just fine and looking forward to
welcoming visitors in 2018 shortly after Easter.
The effectiveness of the defences is very clear- the Lighthouse itself now stands on its own little peninsula, with the high water mark of the rest of the beach now behind the Lighthouse. Had we
not placed the defences, it is certain that the Lighthouse would have already been undermined.
Orfordness Lighthouse Trust remains committed to keeping the Lighthouse standing where it is for as long as possible, and remaining alive to the constant threat of the sea. When the time comes,
barring a very significant change of circumstances, we intend to dismantle the Lighthouse and rebuild a replica elsewhere on the Ness. If you want to hear more about this plan, we'd recommend coming
on one of our Summer Open Days and we'll be glad to tell you more about it.