Dovercourt Low Light

Dovercourt Low Light is a retired cast-iron lighthouse at Dovercourt, part of Harwich in Essex, eastern England. It stands at the seaward end of a stone causeway running into Dovercourt Bay and forms a pair with its taller sibling, Dovercourt High Light.

What is it?

Trinity House commissioned two new lights in 1862, and they were finished in 1863. They took over from the older Harwich lights after changes to the shipping channel left those towers redundant. Together the pair served as leading lights, steering vessels into the Stour estuary and on to Harwich harbour. The Low Light sits closer to the sea and is roughly 4 metres shorter than the High Light.

Both towers are screw-pile lighthouses, a design invented by Alexander Mitchell. Threaded iron piles were driven deep into soft ground to carry the legs of the tower. Inside, a keeper's room sat below the lamp room, and the original lamps burned gas.

Why visit?

Few places in England preserve a pair of cast-iron lighthouses standing right on a beach. Photographers come for sunrise and sunset, and a walk along Marine Parade gives a clear view of both towers and the causeway between them. The causeway is underwater for most of the day and surfaces only at low tide.

What happened after it closed?

The lights were made redundant in 1917. They fell into disrepair until Harwich Town Council bought them in 1922, and a major restoration took place in the 1980s. In 1975 both towers and the causeway were scheduled as a monument, and in 2019 they were added to Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register. Recent surveys found serious corrosion, so funding for repairs is being sought.

How to get there

The lighthouse is on Dovercourt beach, opposite Marine Parade. From central Harwich it is a short walk or local bus ride, and Dovercourt railway station is close to the seafront. You cannot go inside, but both towers are easy to see from the beach and promenade.

When to go

Low tide is best, when the causeway is exposed, along with clear afternoons and evenings for photos. Summer is the busiest period on the beach; outside the season the seafront is quiet.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go inside Dovercourt Low Light?

No. The tower is a protected monument at risk from corrosion, so it is viewed from outside, from the beach and the promenade.

How does the Low Light differ from the High Light?

The Low Light stands nearer the sea and is shorter; the High Light is closer to the shore and taller. Lined up, they marked the safe approach to the harbour.

Is this the same as the High and Low Lighthouses in Harwich town?

No. Those are older brick towers from 1818 in Harwich itself. The Dovercourt lights are cast iron and date from 1863.

Is the light still working?

No. It was switched off in 1917 and no longer serves navigation.