Whitby West Pier beacon

Whitby West Pier beacon stands on the West Pier at the entrance to Whitby harbour in North Yorkshire. The pier and its lighthouse were built in 1831, making the lighthouse the older of the two protecting the harbour. At 25.5 metres tall, it is also the taller of the pair. Princess Victoria visited the lighthouse in 1834, soon after it opened. The pier was extended seawards by about 150 metres in 1914, and a new beacon was added at the end of this extension. The extension also houses a foghorn that sounds every thirty seconds when fog rolls in. In 2011 both lighthouse towers and the beacons received new lights. The West Pier Lighthouse remains an active aid to navigation for vessels entering Whitby harbour. Its beam guides ships safely past the headland day and night. Visitors walk along the West Pier to reach the beacon at its tip. The pier offers wide views across the North Sea and along the coastline. Seabirds often circle the beacon, and the sound of the foghorn adds a maritime rhythm to the scene. The lighthouse itself is a sturdy white tower with a lantern at the top. The contrast between the pier’s stone and the open sea creates a striking sight.