Happisburgh Lighthouse on the north-east Norfolk coast is one of two lighthouses built in 1789 as the result of a tragic loss of 70 sailing ships and 600 lives in a severe winter storm. Low Light, situated on the cliff top and High Light, 0.4 km inland, were first used in 1791, with vessels keeping the two lights in line as a guide between Happisburgh Sands and the shore.
Improvements to both lighthouses were made during the nineteenth century, including the replacement of candle lanterns with oil lamps set in silver reflectors, the installation of a glass prism lens in High Light in 1863, and the use of gas lighting from 1865.
The fixed beacon of High Light was replaced with an occulting beacon and Low Light was withdrawn from service and demolished due to coastal erosion in 1883. Shortly after this, High Light was painted with its distinctive red and white bands and further improvements made, including the replacement of gas lights with paraffin-vapour burners in 1910.
By 1929, the use of acetylene meant that the services of a resident keeper could be dispensed with and, as a result, the cottages were sold and the lighthouse closed to the public. Electricity was installed in 1942 using a 500 W lamp with a range of 29 km.
The Friends of Happisburgh Lighthouse was established as a registered charity (Charity No. 1044590) in 1988 to campaign against the closure of the lighthouse. With the passing of a parliamentary private bill and establishment of the Happisburgh Lighthouse Trust as a ‘local lighthouse authority’ in 1990, Happisburgh Lighthouse became the only independently run lighthouse in Britain.
Following a visit from H.M. the Queen on 20th July 1990 and re-decoration in August of that year, Happisburgh Lighthouse celebrated its bi-centenary in 1991. It is now maintained by the Happisburgh Lighthouse Trust with the support of the Friends of Happisburgh Lighthouse.
Standing 28 m in height, with its light 41 m above mean high water, Happisburgh Lighthouse is a well-known and treasured landmark. It is accessible to the public on advertised open days and is a popular attraction for visitors to the picturesque Norfolk coast. The lighthouse, together with the cottages, is listed as being of special architectural or historic interest (grade II).

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