Trinity House

Trinity House stands in the City of London, a short walk from Tower Hill. The present building, designed by Samuel Wyatt, was completed in 1796 and still serves as the corporation’s headquarters. Five state rooms look out over Trinity Square, the Tower of London and the River Thames. The site has been the organisation’s base since the 16th century, though the earlier buildings were destroyed in 1940. After the war the interior was restored and reopened by Elizabeth II in 1953. A small staff remains at Tower Hill, while operational bases are now at Harwich and Swansea. The organisation was founded by royal charter in 1514 to improve navigation and support seafarers. It became the sole authority for all British lighthouses under the 1836 Lighthouses Act. During the world wars it marked naval routes and guided ships through hazardous waters. In 1944 Trinity House laid 73 lighted buoys for the D-Day landings and handled nearly 3,000 vessels in the following month. The last manned lightvessel left station in 1989, and automation of lighthouses was completed in 1998. Visitors find a quiet suite of five state rooms with high ceilings and views across the square. Outside, the broad pavement leads to the Tower of London’s outer walls. The building’s façade remains unchanged since the 18th century, though interiors were rebuilt after the Blitz. A small garden at the rear offers a sheltered spot beside the river. The headquarters staff can often be seen entering or leaving, but the public is not admitted beyond the entrance hall.