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About this place
Old Hunstanton Lighthouse is a former lighthouse in Old Hunstanton, on the north Norfolk coast near King's Lynn. It crowns Hunstanton Cliffs, the highest ground along this stretch of shore. Today it is a private holiday home, so visitors admire it from outside.
What exactly is it?
A white, round tower with a gently tapering profile rises through four storeys. It is built of stuccoed brick under a slate roof. A cottage is attached on the north side; its twin on the south was demolished long ago. The building is listed Grade II (since 1984). Sources disagree on the date of the present tower: the official listing suggests around 1830, while other accounts say 1840.
What is its story?
A light has shone on this spot since the 17th century. The first towers were lit in 1665 next to a medieval chapel, and a wooden structure replaced them in the late 1700s. Until the Lynn Well light vessel arrived in 1828, Hunstanton gave ships their only visible night guide into The Wash, steering them toward the safe water of Lynn Deeps. The light went out around 1921-22. From 1934 to 1957 the Royal Observer Corps used the tower, and in 1964 the town council sold it to a Cambridge architect.
Can you go inside?
Only as a paying guest. The lighthouse is private property let as holiday accommodation, so there are no opening hours or tickets. The tower is easy to see from the road and from the cliff-top area around it.
What else is nearby?
Right beside it stand the ruins of St Edmund's Chapel, built in 1272. The pairing of ruin and white tower makes one of the most photogenic corners of Old Hunstanton. The surrounding cliffs are known for their layered rock.
When should you visit?
The tower looks good in any season. Early morning and evening give the best photo light, and a cliff walk is more pleasant on dry days.
Frequently asked questions
Is Old Hunstanton Lighthouse open to the public?
No. It is a private holiday home. You can view it from outside or book a stay.
Are the ruins next to it part of the lighthouse?
No. The ruins belong to St Edmund's Chapel, dating from 1272. The lighthouse is a separate, fully preserved 19th-century tower.
When did the light stop working?
It was decommissioned in 1921 or 1922, depending on the source. It later served aircraft observers.
Is it a listed building?
Yes, it has been Grade II listed since 1984.
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