St. Catherine's Lighthouse

The new lighthouse, built by Trinity House in 1838, was constructed as a 40 m stone tower. When first built the light was oil-fuelled; its lamp, with four concentric wicks, was set within a large (first-order) fixed dioptric lens, built by Cookson & co. and surmounted by 250 mirrors (which were later replaced with prisms). It was first lit on 1 March 1840; however, the light was often obscured by fog, which led in due course to the height of the tower being reduced by 13 m in 1875. At the same time the lamp was replaced with a six-wick mineral-oil burner, and a system of 'dioptric mirrors' (prisms) was installed to redirect light from the landward side of the lamp out to sea. In 1868 a…

In July 2021, Trinity House issued a Notice to Mariners reducing the light's nominal range from 25 nmi to 19; later that year the second-order Fresnel lens system was removed (the light being shown for a time from a temporary lamp). It was replaced the following year with two Vega VLB92 type LED lanterns (one to function as the main light, the other as a standby). A red sector light (range 13 nmi), shown from a window lower in the tower, marks Atherfield Ledge. This light was also upgraded in 2021. At the same time the DGPS system formerly in operation at the lighthouse was decommissioned. Three former keepers' cottages around the lighthouse can be rented out as holiday accommodation.