Burnham-On-Sea’s historic high lighthouse has gone on sale this week with a guide price of £525,000.
More than half a century after it was first automated, one of the most unique lighthouse conversions in Britain is now looking for a new Keeper, it was anounnced today (Monday).
Burnham High Lighthouse, a Grade II* listed lighthouse tower built in 1830, has been converted to a three-bedroom home with round rooms on each of its eight floors.
The local landmark stands at 110 feet (33 metres) tall and is solidly engineered in both brick and huge blocks of solid granite.
Packed with original features, from the historic glass Fresnel lenses in the lantern room, to the dramatic vaulted domed brick ceiling on the ground floor, the tower has been updated with modern features such as reinforced glass floor, French cast-iron roll top bath (big enough for two) and its own industrial sprinkler system, complete with solid bronze fittings.
Burnham High Lighthouse originally lit up the Somerset coast with a paraffin lamp in the lantern room.
In the early 1950s it became one of the first lighthouses in England to be automated. The automated lantern shone brightly across the Bristol Channel, visible for a distance of up to 22 miles, keeping mariners safe until the late 1980s.
The top floor of the tower still has its original lantern room, with Fresnel lenses, a beautiful copper domed roof and granite balcony. On a clear day the lighthouse enjoys unrivalled views across the Bristol Channel, taking in the whole of south-Wales, well beyond Cardiff and you can see the whole of Exmoor at the same time.
The eight separate round rooms are connected by a total of over 120 stairs and all three bedrooms are en suite.
As one might expect the tower has many nautical features including a huge ship’s bell, antique barometer, silver divers helmet, bronze portholes and original bronze air vents. The tower is kept safe in storms by its own lightning conductor.
The ‘sympathetically restored’ tower is for sale by informal tender via CJ Hole with Edward Creswick in Burnham-On-Sea with a guide price of £525,000.
The closing date for informal tender bids is Friday 29th June 2018 and for more information on this iconic building, or to book a viewing, call 01278 780000 and mention Burnham-On-Sea.com.
