West Usk Lighthouse

On the way home from a call out this morning to Cardiff I took the coast road and stopped off at St Brides, near Newport (South Wales) which is on the Severn Estuary and at the mouth of The River Usk. The tide was out but visibility good to get an aerial photograph.

The West Usk Lighthouse was built in 1821 by Scottish architect, James Walker. It was his first venture, but he later went on to build another 21 lighthouses. The Lighthouse was on its own island up until 1856 when the land was reclaimed around it and a road was created.

It served as a real lighthouse warning ships right up until 1922 when it was decommissioned. It then became a private home shortly afterwards but soon fell into dis-repair and became derelict. However, in the Second World War the Lighthouse was used as a look-out post.In the late 1960s it was turned back into a private home until 1982 where it fell into disrepair once more.

The current owners bought the lighthouse in 1987 and spent two years restoring it. It is now run as a Bed & Breakfast. The lantern room was restored in 1997 with a grant from the Wales Tourist Board and CADW. The lighthouse is now a grade II listed building and is over 190 years old.

You can also see Machen Mountain, my local hills, in the distance.