Portland Bill Lighthouse

Portland Bill Lighthouse stands on the southern tip of the Isle of Portland in Dorset. The white and red striped tower rises 41 metres above the surrounding rocks, guiding ships through the dangerous waters of Portland Bill. Built in the early 20th century, it replaced two older lighthouses that had guided vessels since 1716. The new lighthouse first shone its light on 11 January 1906, using a powerful paraffin lamp and a rotating lens system. Trinity House, the lighthouse authority, oversaw its construction and operation from the start. The lighthouse is worth visiting for its engineering history and role in maritime safety. Its original optic weighed 3.5 tons and flashed four times every 20 seconds with an intensity of 635,000 candelas. A fog signal, added in 1940, sounded a 3.5-second blast every 30 seconds until automation in 1996. The diaphone foghorn, once heard up to 13 kilometres away, has been restored for occasional use. Trinity House later modernised the light with LED technology, reducing its range to 33 kilometres while improving reliability. Visitors find a visitor centre in the former keeper’s house, opened in 2015 after the original closed. Guided tours last about 45 minutes and include climbing 153 steps to the lantern room. The tower’s red sector light once warned ships of The Shambles sandbank, and the restored fog signal still sounds on Sunday mornings in fair weather. The surrounding cliffs and sea views add to the dramatic setting of this working lighthouse.