Dungeness – Old

With its deceptive shifting banks of sand and shingle, Dungeness point has a long and formidable reputation as a graveyard for shipping.

Because of the continuous build-up of shingle between the beach and the high lighthouses, ships passing Dungeness Point often missed sight of the lighthouse, with disastrous consequences for some.

By the turn of the twentieth century, it was apparent that the then current high lighthouse was not adequate. A new tower was constructed 50 metres from the old lighthouse. Known as the High Light Tower, this 43 metre high tower was painted black with a wide central horizontal white band to make it a recognisable day mark for mariners.

When it was decommissioned in 1960, it was painted black so as not to confuse it with the present operational tower. The lighthouse is no longer owned by Trinity House and is now a tourist attraction and museum.