Lighthouse owner faces 'conundrum' over its future

The owner of a lighthouse steeped in history is facing a decision as the sea closes in and it risks being damaged by coastal erosion.

Perched high above Beachy Head on the East Sussex coast, the Belle Tout lighthouse has survived shipwrecks, wartime shelling, and was previously moved 17m (56ft) inland.

It was built in the early 19th Century and has undergone multiple transformations – from navigational beacon to private home, film location and, today, an exclusive clifftop bed and breakfast.

But, current owner David Shaw said with the coastal erosion being "relentless", he thinks it will be OK for 20 years but he will have to decide whether to make it safe or leave that to the next owner.

Speaking to Secret Sussex, he said: "It is a worry.

"It will see me out but it is a bit of a conundrum.

"Ideally, I would like to make its future secure - that would be wonderful."

Calls for a lighthouse on this hazardous stretch of coast date back to 1691, following repeated shipwrecks along the cliffs near Beachy Head.

Construction began with a temporary wooden structure in 1828, followed by the permanent granite tower completed in 1832 and it became operational in October 1834.

The original light used 30 oil lamps mounted in parabolic reflectors, consuming about 2 gallons (7.5 litres) of oil per hour.

But, the lighthouse's clifftop position has proven to be problematic.

Sea mists frequently obscured the beam, and ships sailing too close to the rocks could not see it at all.

Belle Tout was decommissioned in 1902, shortly after the new Beachy Head Lighthouse entered service.

In 1999, engineers undertook a major rescue operation, moving the entire 850‑tonne building inland using hydraulic jacks, the first time a historic structure of this scale had been moved intact in the UK.

The operation made national news and preserved the lighthouse for future generations.

It remains a Grade II listed building.

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