Listed Building record MWX298 - Old Higher Lighthouse, Portland

Old Higher Lighthouse was built in 1869, it was taken out of service in 1905 and is now a dwelling. The buildings are rendered and painted with slate roofs. The lighthouse was in a low circular tower and was linked by short corridors to the domestic accommodation to the east and south. The building was used as a holiday home for Dr Marie Stopes for about 30 years and is reputed to have been visited by Thomas Hardy in the early 20th century.

A lighthouse is shown on this site on an 1840 Tithe Map of Portland. <1>

However, the Old Higher Lighthouse was built in 1869, it was taken out of service in 1905 and is now a dwelling. The buildings are rendered and painted with slate roofs. The lighthouse was in a low circular tower and was linked by short corridors to the domestic accommodation to the east and south. The building was used as a holiday home for Dr Marie Stopes for about 30 years and is reputed to have been visited by Thomas Hardy in the early 20th century. <2>

Further, two lighthouses are shown at this location on a Chart of 1779. <3>

<1> Unknown, pre-2004, Collection of Digitised Tithe Maps (Digital archive). SWX8753.

<2> DOE (HRR), 17 May 1993, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Borough of Weymouth and Portland amendment 1993 (Scheduling record). SWX2185.

<3> Sayer and Bennett, 1779, Hydrographic Survey of Isle, Road and Race of Portland with the Shambles (Chart). SWX8808.

<4> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BF106297 (Index). SDO14738.

THE OLD HIGHER LIGHTHOUSE, PORTLND BILL ROAD, PORTLAND BILL, PORTLAND

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1346057 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jun 1 2023 10:20AM