- St Mary's Lighthouse is in North Tyneside, England.
- Tidal island lighthouse, now a visitor centre
- Check access, weather and local guidance before travelling.
About St Mary's Lighthouse
St Mary's Lighthouse stands on a small tidal island off the coast at Whitley Bay, reached by a causeway that is submerged at high tide. Decommissioned in 1984, the 37-metre tower and keeper's cottages now serve as a visitor centre and nature reserve managed by North Tyneside Council.
The story of St Mary's Lighthouse
A monastic light is believed to have been maintained on the island in medieval times by monks of St Mary's Chapel, which once stood on the site. The present lighthouse was built in 1898 by Trinity House to replace an earlier coal-fired light and was designed to guide vessels along the Northumberland coast and into the River Tyne. The 37-metre tower was lit by a paraffin vapour lamp until electrification in 1977. It was decommissioned in 1984 as modern navigation aids made it redundant, and the site was taken over by the local authority and opened as a visitor centre shortly afterwards.
Visiting with care
The lighthouse is open to the public throughout the year with a visitor centre, small museum and guided climbs of the 137 steps to the lantern gallery. The causeway is only crossable at low tide — check tide times carefully before visiting, as the sea cuts the island off for several hours each tide cycle. The surrounding rocks are a designated nature reserve rich in rock pool life and seabirds.
Interesting facts
- Built in 1898 by Trinity House on a medieval monastic site.
- Reached by a causeway that is submerged at high tide.
- The 37-metre tower has 137 steps to the lantern gallery.
- Decommissioned in 1984 and now run as a visitor centre and nature reserve.
Getting there
Parking and access details — check locally for the latest information.