Heugh Lighthouse

Heugh Lighthouse is a working navigation light on The Headland, the old peninsula district of Hartlepool in County Durham, north-east England. The present tower dates from 1927. Its Victorian predecessor earned a place in lighting history as one of the earliest lighthouses run on gas.

What is the story behind the lighthouse?

The first sandstone tower was lit on 1 October 1847. Its lamp burned natural gas from nearby coal mines, and the site kept its own gas holder as a reserve in case the town gasworks fell short. Some sources call it the first lighthouse anywhere to be lit reliably by gas. Accounts disagree on the tower's height and construction cost, so treat any single figure with caution.

In 1915, during the First World War, the tower was taken down because it blocked the firing arc of the Headland's defensive guns. A temporary light on Town Moor guided ships until the current lighthouse entered service in 1927. It is owned and operated by the port company PD Ports.

What else is there to see on the Headland?

The lighthouse stands among former coastal defences. The surrounding emplacements were later adapted for turret-mounted 6-inch guns. Right next door, on Moor Terrace, the Heugh Battery Museum tells the story of the German bombardment of Hartlepool in December 1914, and presents the site as Britain's only First World War battlefield. The battery served again in the Second World War and was decommissioned in 1956. Nearby are the war memorial and a clifftop walk with open views of the North Sea.

The original optic from the old lighthouse is preserved in the Museum of Hartlepool, so the two make a natural pairing for a half-day trip.

How do you visit?

The tower is an active navigation aid, so most visitors view it from the street and the promenade rather than going inside. It sits at roughly 54.6965 N, 1.1761 W. From central Hartlepool it takes a short bus or car ride, and the whole Headland can be walked in about an hour. The Heugh Battery Museum has usually opened Friday to Monday, but hours and ticket prices change by season, so check heughbattery.co.uk before you go.

Pick a clear afternoon when the low light picks out the stonework and the wind off the sea is gentler. Winter days here are blustery, so bring a warm layer.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Heugh Lighthouse? It operates as part of the port's navigation system, so visitors see it from the outside. The wider story is told in the nearby museums.

When was the lighthouse built? The current tower was completed in 1927. The earlier one, first lit in 1847, was demolished in 1915.

Why was the first lighthouse demolished? It obstructed the line of fire of the Headland's gun batteries during the First World War.

What else is nearby? The Heugh Battery Museum, the war memorial, the clifftop path and the Museum of Hartlepool, which holds the original lighthouse optic.