Teignmouth

Teignmouth, at the mouth of the River Teign was once a seaport and market town, but today has become a popular seaside resort. On the Western end of the promenade on the sea front, or the Den as it is known locally, is a small lighthouse and a pier.

Because the entrance to the River Teign has dangerous currents, rocks and shifting sands, it poses a danger to vessels and thus was deemed to require a navigational aid. Under the Harbour Commissioners, planning for the lighthouse started in the early 1840sand five years later, the limestone lighthouse tower was complete and came into service in 1845.

Lit by three gas burners, with reflectors, the lighthouse showed a fixed red light with a range of 13 Km to guide ships to the mouth of the harbour.

The lighthouse is currently maintained by the Harbour Master and continues to guide vessels past the channel’s sand bars and safely into port.