Teignmouth lighthouse is a lighthouse situated on the south end of the Den promenade at

Teignmouth Teignmouth ( ) is a seaside town, fishing port and civil parishes in England, civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is on the north bank of the estuary mouth of the River Teign, about south of Exeter. The town had a population of 14 ...

Devon Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Cornwall to the west ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. It is paired with a red polycarbonate leading light at Powderham Terrace behind the lighthouse. It has been a Grade II listed building since 1949.

History

The entrance to the

River Teign The River Teign is a river in the county of Devon, England. It is long and rises on Dartmoor, becomes an estuary just below Newton Abbot and reaches the English Channel at Teignmouth. Toponymy The river-name ''Teign'' is first attested in a ...

has dangerous currents, rocks and shifting sands, posing a danger to vessels and thus was deemed to require a navigational aid. Under the Harbour Commissioners, planning for the lighthouse commenced in the early 1840s. The limestone lighthouse tower was built in 1844–1845 and came into service in 1845. It was lit by three gas burners, with reflectors, and showed a fixed red light (with a range of 7 nautical miles) to guide ships to the mouth of the harbour.

Design and Structure

The lighthouse is a white-painted cylindrical brick tower approximately 30–35 ft tall, surmounted by a red lantern dome. Its compact design contrasts with larger coastal lighthouses and serves a practical role in marking the harbour entrance.

Operation & Management

Since its construction, the lighthouse has functioned as part of a leading-light system in conjunction with a front light to guide vessels through the navigable channel of the River Teign. The structure is now automated and forms part of the harbour’s aids-to-navigation, operating under standards defined by the Port Marine Safety Code. The lighthouse falls under the jurisdiction of the Teignmouth Harbour Commission, which is the statutory harbour and local lighthouse authority. It oversees the maintenance and compliance of local navigation aids in accordance with the Port Marine Safety Code.

Cultural Significance & Heritage status

The lighthouse is often featured in regional imagery and is noted in local heritage publications as an element of Teignmouth’s maritime history. The structure is designated as a Grade II listed building under entry number 1269045, recognised for its historical and architectural interest.

References

{{Authority control Grade II listed buildings in Devon Lighthouses in Devon Teignmouth

History

Design and Structure

Operation & Management

Cultural Significance & Heritage status

See also

References