Flamborough Old Lighthouse

It did cross my mind when we visited that there was no actual means of emitting light from the Flamborough lighthouse, however, it is believed that a fire may have burned in a metal basket hung from the top of the building, though there is no evidence that there was ever a fire lit. It worked as a daymark too and can be seen all along the coastline at Flamborough Head and by ships passing on the North Sea.

Ships that passed in the 17th century were required to pay a tax to the architects of the lighthouse to pay for the light, however the tax was voluntary so not surprisingly many mariners refused to pay and this led to John Clayton becoming bankrupt and the end of the lighthouse.

The lighthouse was given another life in the 1840s and was used by local man George Mainprize to transmit semaphore messages to passing vessels and possibly to the fort at nearby Bridlington. Now it is a grade II listed building and it opens to the public on various days during the summer months. There is usually no access inside the tower, and there is a friendly warning about flying golf balls if you dare to trespass on the Flamborough Head Golf Course.