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The Great Britain Guide

Lighthouses · South East England

South Foreland Upper Lighthouse

Trinity HouseFree admission

South Foreland Upper Lighthouse — grade II listed lighthouse at St. Margaret's Bay, Dover, Kent, England, UK.

South Foreland Upper Lighthouse, lighthouses in Kent

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
30 min–1 h
Nearest railway station
Martin Mill · 3.7 km
  • Free entry
  • Family-friendly
  • Dog-friendly

About

South Foreland Upper Lighthouse is a working or historic lighthouse on the United Kingdom coast. Designed by James Walker. Constructed primarily of stone. Heritage designation: Grade II listed building. Owned by National Trust. Managed by Trinity House. Part of South Foreland Lighthouses. Wikidata describes it as: "grade II listed lighthouse at St. Margaret's Bay, Dover, Kent, England, UK". Coordinates: 51.1404°, 1.3711°.

Photo gallery

Heritage listing

Details TR 34 SE ST MARGARET'S AT CLIFFE THE FRONT (south Foreland) 6/58 South Foreland Lighthouse II Lighthouse and outbuildings. Built 1793, rebuilt 1843. Rendered, with slate roofs. Irregular octagon with flanking wings. The tower is of 3 storeys on a plinth, with machicolations and battlemented parapet. Lantern with ball finial and weather vane. Single storey outbuildings with plinth and parapet and low hipped roof with 2 cast iron chimney pots. Projecting canted bay window on main facade, and projecting return wing both with pediment-shaped parapets and Trinity House emblems. Linked to tower by short wing with four centred arched doorway. Main entry to tower with pointed arch on attached shafts. With the first permanent electric lamp in the country (installed 1872, only the Lizard Light is more powerful on the south coast). Listing NGR: TR3591143305 Legacy The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system. Legacy System number: 178497 Legacy System: LBS

From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.

Protected designations

  • Site of Special Scientific Interest: Dover to Kingsdown Cliffs SSSI
  • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Kent Downs

Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.

Place summary

South Foreland Upper Lighthouse is located in St. Margaret's at Cliffe, Kent, in South-East England. Designed by architect James Walker, it is a Grade II listed building and is operated by Trinity House. The lighthouse is situated within the Dover to Kingsdown Cliffs Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

AI-generated from the structured facts on this page (operator, designation, listing, era). Not a substitute for visiting.

Coordinates
51.1404, 1.3711
County
Kent
District
Dover
Parish
St. Margaret's at Cliffe
Postcode
CT15 6HP
Parliamentary constituency
Dover and Deal
Nearest railway station
Martin Mill3.7 km

Sources

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Nearby

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Frequently asked questions

Where is South Foreland Upper Lighthouse?
South Foreland Upper Lighthouse is in Kent, South-East England, United Kingdom (postcode CT15 6HP), in the parish of St. Margaret's at Cliffe.
Who owns South Foreland Upper Lighthouse?
South Foreland Upper Lighthouse is owned by National Trust and operated by Trinity House.
Is South Foreland Upper Lighthouse a listed building?
South Foreland Upper Lighthouse is officially recognised as Grade II listed building listed.
Is South Foreland Upper Lighthouse a protected site?
Yes — South Foreland Upper Lighthouse is part of the Dover to Kingsdown Cliffs SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Kent Downs National Landscape (AONB).
Is South Foreland Upper Lighthouse free to visit?
Yes, South Foreland Upper Lighthouse is free to enter.
How do I get to South Foreland Upper Lighthouse?
The nearest railway station is Martin Mill, about 3.7 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode CT15 6HP.