Chalk Tower

Chalk Tower in Flamborough (East Riding of Yorkshire, England) is a chalk-built lighthouse tower dating from 1674, regarded as one of the oldest surviving complete lighthouse towers in the country. It stands on the cliff-top of Flamborough Head, a short walk from the modern lighthouse, and is a protected monument on the National Heritage List for England.

What is the Chalk Tower?

The tower went up between about 1669 and 1674, promoted by Sir John Clayton, who held a royal licence to build lighthouses, with George Blake as financial partner. It was a commercial gamble: ship owners were supposed to pay dues scaled to the weight of their cargo. Most masters refused, and Clayton went bankrupt. Historic England records that it never operated as a working light, and some accounts say a fire was never lit in it at all.

That failure is why so much survives. Historic England calls it a unique survival of a 17th-century monument lighthouse in England in an unaltered state. It is both a listed building and a scheduled monument. Sources disagree on the grade (II or II*), so check the National Heritage List entry (no. 1014241) if you need the exact figure.

What can you see?

From outside you see a sturdy tower of chalk blocks, quite unlike the whitewashed 19th-century lighthouse nearer the tip of the headland. That newer light came into service in 1806 and took over the job of guiding shipping. Around the tower are sea cliffs, seabird colonies and coastal footpaths.

Interior access is limited: only the ground floor opens to visitors. A volunteer group, the Friends of the Chalk Tower, holds a licence from the council and opens it on special dates, including Heritage Open Days with no booking needed. A major restoration took place in 1996 with help from the council and English Heritage.

How do you get there?

Drive to Flamborough Head and use the council car park, then walk the short path to the tower. Flamborough sits on the coast between Bridlington and Scarborough.

When should you visit?

Dry days from spring to autumn make the cliff walk most pleasant. To see inside, check the open-day dates, which often fall in September.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Chalk Tower the same as Flamborough Head Lighthouse? No. They are separate buildings: the 1674 chalk tower and the working lighthouse built in 1806.

Did the tower ever guide ships? According to Historic England it was never used as a working light, because shipowners would not pay the dues.

Can you go inside? Only the ground floor, and only on dates when the Friends of the Chalk Tower open it.

Is there an entry fee, and where do you park? Park at the council car park at Flamborough Head; viewing the tower from outside needs no ticket.