Paull Lighthouse

Paull Lighthouse stands on the north bank of the Humber Estuary in the East Riding of Yorkshire, six miles east of Kingston upon Hull. The village of Paull sits on a narrow strip of land between the estuary’s tidal mud flats and a network of drainage ditches. Low-lying fields surround the settlement, mostly below five metres above sea level, with small hills rising near Rose Hill and the former Paull battery. The lighthouse marks the edge of the village, close to the church of St Andrew and the two pubs, the Royal Oak and the Humber Tavern. A road from the A1033 leads directly into the heart of Paull, where the lighthouse is the most visible landmark. The lighthouse has stood since the 19th century, built to guide ships along the Humber as trade and naval activity grew. It replaced earlier beacons that had warned of invasion or enemy ships since the 16th century. The site also includes Paull battery, once a military fort with cannons facing the estuary, now home to a museum called Fort Paull. The village itself was known for its shrimp fisheries in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when small boats known as Paull Shrimpers worked the estuary’s waters. Visitors find a quiet village with the lighthouse as its focal point, its white tower rising above the estuary’s banks. The church of St Andrew, rebuilt in the 14th century after floods and fires, stands nearby with its battlemented tower and Perpendicular windows. The Humber Tavern and Royal Oak offer places to rest, while the museum at Fort Paull tells the story of the area’s defences. The tidal flats stretch out towards the estuary, and the low hills behind the village provide views over the surrounding farmland.