Chalk Tower

Heritage listing

Details The monument is the former Flamborough Head lighthouse and includes an octagonal tower constructed of coursed chalk rubble with stone dressings. It was built in 1674 as a business venture by Sir John Clayton, but never used. The lighthouse comprises an octagonal tower of four stages and a brick parapet, all marked by moulded string-courses. There is a boarded door with a pointed red brick surround and another blocked door in pointed yellow brick to the landward side. On the cardinal and seaward facing sides there are rectangular windows to the three upper levels having stone surrounds with plain chamfers to the reveals, sills and lintels. Behind the parapet there is a low roof. The interior contains 20th century wooden stairs and floors. The cliffs around the headland have long been recognised as dangerous for passing shipping, including Flamborough's own fishing vessels. This lighthouse proved uneconomical to run as voluntary dues from passing ships proved inadequate. From around 1840 until the turn of the century it was used as a marine telegraph station. Since its construction it has always been a navigational landmark for vessels entering Bridlington Bay, and is still considered to be a useful guide to local fishermen. The monument is also a Listed Grade II* building. Modern post and wire fences bounding the monument and separating it from the golf course in which it is situated are excluded from the scheduling, as are all modern fixtures and fittings, although the ground beneath is included. MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation. Legacy The contents of this record have been generated f

From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.