More information : For further images of St Mary's Lighthouse and details of the history of the Island, please see the Friends of St. Mary's website. - Please note the website is no longer available [01-MAY-2013], it is operated as a visitor centre by North Tyneside Council. (1)
A lighthouse on St. Mary's Island (also known as Bait Island) in Whitley Bay, built in 1898, now a visitor centre. The lighthouse is circa 120 foot high and constructed of brick covered with cement render. The architect was J. Livingstone Miller. This lighthouse was needed to replace an older lighthouse at Tynemouth Priory, because pollution from Tyneside's industries was preventing this earlier light from being seen properly. St. Mary's Lighthouse light was initially powered by paraffin vapour; it was not converted to electrical light until 1977. The lighthouse keeper's accommodation was adjacent: this was built out of stone and was linked to the lighthouse tower by a covered passage. Prior to the construction of a causeway in 1929, low-tide access to the lighthouse was by stepping stones. The building ceased to be an active lighthouse in 1984. (2)
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