The 31 metre tower of Southwold Lighthouse is remarkable, particularly for its position, a couple of streets back from Southwold’s parade in the centre of the town amongst Southwold’s many pretty holiday cottages.

An imposing landmark as well as a warning for passing shipping, work began on the construction of Southwold lighthouse in 1887, when Southwold Harbour was still busy with commercial vessels collecting and delivering goods to Halesworth and surrounding towns and villages via the Blyth navigation.

Midway between Lowestoft and Orford, the round white tower replaced three local lighthouses which were under threat from severe coastal erosion at Orfordness to the South. The present lighthouse has been in operation since 3rd September 1890.

The lighthouse was manned until 1938, when the station was electrified. Two red sectors mark shoals to the north and the Sizewell Bank to the south; the main navigation light is white.