Farewell Orfordness Lighthouse?

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Normalfornorfolk

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Last time I passed in October the foundations were uncovered to a depth of what looked like a couple of metres and the old brick septic tanks were exposed right on the shoreline. There were signs of protective work being done but it seems a futile Canute exercise to me. That piece of coast is going to feel very different without the lighthouse, I just wonder how many winter Easterlies it can stand before the inevitable happens.
Anyone know about it's current state and prognosis?
 
Normalfornorfolk said:
Last time I passed in October the foundations were uncovered to a depth of what looked like a couple of metres and the old brick septic tanks were exposed right on the shoreline. There were signs of protective work being done but it seems a futile Canute exercise to me. That piece of coast is going to feel very different without the lighthouse, I just wonder how many winter Easterlies it can stand before the inevitable happens.
Anyone know about it's current state and prognosis?
Click to expand...

It will be a sad day if [when] it goes. Like losing an old friend.
 
I blame Brexit, Global Warming, the Winter Solstice, and the price of coal.

















No, there comes a time when you cannot fight nature, and a managed retreat is all that humans can do. What a splendidly useful and life-saving existence the Light has had.
 
This was how it looked the last time I passed by, in 2015.

cruise%2015%20%289%29%20copy.jpg
 
My wife and I have fond memories of Orfordness lighthouse, from about 40+ years ago. We were sailing and it became foggy, very foggy. This was in the days before GPS, and we really didn't have much of an idea where we were. We couldn't see a thing. So I decided to head west until the water got shallower. And then, as the depth sounder indicated shallower water, we saw this feint red and white thing looming out of the fog. And we then knew where we were.

The National Trust was offered the lighthouse, but declined, saying they thought it should gradually succomb to the sea. There's an Orfordness Lighthouse Trust, who are doing some preventative work, but I reckon it's a labour of love. One day, it'll get washed away.
 
My guess is she will standing for many years.
What makes people think she will collapse with a little bit of foundation on view.

Simon
 
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