Southsea Castle Lighthouse
Chance Brothers Lighthouse
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Date of lens manufacture
1904
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Date of lighthouse construction
1828
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Country
United Kingdom
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Commissioning body
The British Government Admirality
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Order of lens
4th order
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Fixed or revolving lens
Fixed
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Active/Inactive
Inactive
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Describe the character of light
4th order fixed and occulting
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Describe the lighthouses daymarks
10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical stone tower, painted white with a black horizontal band. Located atop the western rampart of the castle, marking the east side of the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour.
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Which aspects of the lighthouse (other than the lens) were manufactured by Chance brothers
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Describe the history of the lighthouse
Southsea Castle, historically also known as Chaderton Castle, South Castle and Portsea Castle, is an artillery fort originally constructed by Henry VIII on Portsea Island, Hampshire, in 1544. It formed part of the King's Device programme to protect against invasion from France and the Holy Roman Empire, and defended the Solent and the eastern approach to Portsmouth.
A lighthouse, commissioned by the Admiralty, was constructed on the western gun platform in 1828. In 1854 its height was raised and it now stands at 34 feet (10 m) above its base atop the walls. The lamp burned sperm oil and was installed behind a fixed dioptric; it showed red and white sectors (red and green from 1854) to guide ships through the safe water between Horse Sand and Spit Sand. The lighthouse keeper was housed in the castle itself. The lighthouse was in continuous use until 2017, when it was superseded by a new structure as part of changes made to approaches to Portsmouth Harbour in preparation for the arrival of the Royal Navy's new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. The original dioptric lens, which was subsequently replaced, is now on display inside the castle.
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Current management body/ ports authority
Portsmouth Museum Service, Portsmouth City Council
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Historical preservation societies/manager/operator
Portsmouth Museum Service, Portsmouth City Council
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Is the site vulnerable to coastal erosion?
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Have you experienced any affects of climate change on the lighthouse?
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Observations on the condition of the lighthouse?
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Is the site open/closed to the public
Open
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Is the tower open/closed to the public
Closed
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Latitude and Longitude
Southsea Castle 50°46′42″N 1°5′20″W
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On-site bookable accommodation available
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Associated web addresses
https://southseacastle.co.uk/visit/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southsea_Castle[#18th_%E2%80%93_19th_centuries;](/browse?tag=18th_%E2%80%93_19th_centuries; "#18th_%E2%80%93_19th_centuries;")
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Other details
Museum entry - (Tower may be closed) Southsea Castle is free to visit. You do not need to book in advance. The museum is open 10am to 5.30pm during summer season (April to October). The museum is closed in winter, but The Courtyard cafe is open year-round. Last admission to the museum is 30 minutes before closing time. During its summer season, Southsea Castle is open Tuesday to Sunday but closed on Mondays (except for bank holidays).
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Which resources did you use to research this lighthouses?
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Inactive Chance Lens
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When was the lens deactivated?
2017
Unde?
