Margate Lighthouse

Margate Lighthouse stands at the end of Margate harbour arm in Kent. The first lighthouse there was designed by architect William Edmunds and completed in 1829. It was a round Doric column, built to resemble the lighthouse at Whitby. This original tower was destroyed by the North Sea flood of 1953. The replacement lighthouse was built in 1955 and still stands today. The current lighthouse appears on the Bank of England’s £20 note in series G. It shares the note with the Turner Contemporary gallery, a nearby arts centre. The octagonal column is a familiar sight to visitors walking the harbour arm. The lighthouse marks the entrance to Margate’s working harbour. Visitors reach the lighthouse by walking along the harbour arm. The arm extends into the sea and offers views of the coastline and the North Sea. The lighthouse itself is a simple but striking structure. Nearby, the Turner Contemporary gallery overlooks the same stretch of water. The harbour arm is a popular spot for walks and photography.