Old Low Light
Old Low Light
HER Number
4557
District
N Tyneside
Site Name
Old Low Light
Place
North Shields
Map Sheet
NZ36NE
Class
Maritime
Site Type: Broad
Navigation Aid
Site Type: Specific
Lighthouse
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
Form of Evidence
Extant Building
Description
The Old Low Light was built in 1727, raised in 1775. It burnt three candles instead of two. It was given copper reflectors in 1736, and oil lamps were substituted for candles in 1773. It was converted into almshouses in 1830, when the building of the New Low Light (HER 2057) rendered the Old Low Light redundant. The lantern turret of the low light was removed to make way for an additional storey and the building has now no resemblance to a lighthouse {2}. Brick of varying bonds with quoins at right. Ground floor rendered. Painted sandstone ashlar, right return, sandstone rubble lower courses on left return. Welsh slate roof. 3 storeys. Ground floor - flat arches to windows. Elliptical brick arches to windows on upper floors. Some windows bricked up, some with sashes burnt or removed. Inserted double loading doors in first floor. 3 commemorative panels, one dated 1775. Sundial on second floor. Hipped roof without chimneys. Boundary stone attached to left return - sandstone block inscribed WD/BS/No7 about 12cm above gound.
Easting
436290
Northing
568480
Grid Reference
NZ436290568480
Sources
<< HER 4557 >> M. Hope Dodds, 1928, The North Shields Lighthouses
D.C. Kear, 1986, Clifford's fort and the Defence of the Tyne, Archaeologia Aeliana. 1996, p 100; Dept. of National Heritage, of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 15/134; N. Pevsner and I. Richmond (second edition revised by J. Grundy, G. McCombie, P. Ryder, H. Welfare), 1992, The Buildings of England - Northumberland, page 531; Northern Counties Archaeological Services, 2013, The Old Low Light, Clifford's Fort, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, Archaeological Building Recording; Northern Counties Archaeological Services, 2010, The Old Low Light, Clifford's Fort, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, Conservation Statement
D.C. Kear, 1986, Clifford's fort and the Defence of the Tyne, Archaeologia Aeliana. 1996, p 100; Dept. of National Heritage, of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 15/134; N. Pevsner and I. Richmond (second edition revised by J. Grundy, G. McCombie, P. Ryder, H. Welfare), 1992, The Buildings of England - Northumberland, page 531; Northern Counties Archaeological Services, 2013, The Old Low Light, Clifford's Fort, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, Archaeological Building Recording; Northern Counties Archaeological Services, 2010, The Old Low Light, Clifford's Fort, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, Conservation Statement