Maryport Old Lighthouse

Maryport Old Lighthouse stands by the harbour in Maryport, Cumbria, on the north-west coast of England. It is a heritage landmark rather than a working navigation light, and one of the most recognisable small structures on the town's waterfront.

What is it, and how old is it?

Maryport's first lighthouse went up in 1796, when the town was growing as a coal and trading port. The present tower dates from around 1846. It is built of cast iron and rises about 11 metres. Heritage descriptions call it probably the oldest cast-iron lighthouse in Britain, and it is a Grade II listed building, meaning it sits on the national register of protected structures.

How did its role change?

By the mid-twentieth century the lamp ran on acetylene. Trinity House, the lighthouse authority for England and Wales, took charge of it in 1961. In 1996 a new aluminium tower with a mains electricity supply was built at the end of the pier and took over the navigational duty, so the old tower went out of service. In 2010 Trinity House handed responsibility for the light to the Maryport Harbour Authority. The old tower was restored and repainted in 2017 as part of a refresh of the harbour area.

What will you see?

You view the lighthouse from the outside, with the harbour basin and the Irish Sea beyond. It is a slim, simple tower and a good photo subject, especially in evening light. Reach it on foot along the waterfront. Treat it as a sight to look at and photograph on a harbour stroll, not as an attraction with an interior to visit.

Do not confuse it with Maryport New Lighthouse, the newer aluminium tower at the pier end. They are two separate structures.

What else fits into the same walk?

Maryport has an eighteenth-century grid plan laid out by the Senhouse family. Walking from the centre down Senhouse Street to the harbour takes around a quarter of an hour and passes Georgian-era buildings and boats moored in the basin. The lighthouse fits easily into a loop along the quayside.

When should you go?

The tower stands in the open, so pick a dry day without a strong wind off the Irish Sea. Late afternoon works well: the sun sits to the west, and sunsets over the Solway Firth are a draw.

Frequently asked questions

Is Maryport Old Lighthouse still in use?

No. After the new tower opened in 1996, the old lighthouse stopped serving ships and now stands as a heritage building.

When was the current tower built?

Around 1846. An earlier lighthouse on the site dates from 1796.

Can you go inside?

Sources describe it as a structure to view from outside. They do not mention interior visits.

Is it the same as Maryport New Lighthouse?

No. The New Lighthouse is the newer aluminium tower at the pier end, while the Old Lighthouse is a mid-nineteenth-century cast-iron landmark.