Britain's Oldest Lighthouse

The Nab Tower is an unusual maritime landmark once called "Britain’s oddest lighthouse."

19:13 24 June 2016

The Nab Tower was built in Shoreham, Sussex, in 1918 costing the government about £1 million. Once described as “Britain’s oddest lighthouse”, it is a cylinder-shaped steel and concrete structure upon which few have set foot. It was part of a plan to protect the south coast from German submarines during World War One.

 

However, the conflict ended before the Nab Tower could be put to use and it was decided that it would serve as a lighthouse in the Solent shipping channel instead.

 

Gerry Douglas-Sherwood, who served on the tower in 1971, said: It was very industrial. It always smelled of coal, paraffin and oil,"

 

"If there was a heavy sea running, the whole thing would shake about. It was scary the first couple of times but it's amazing what you get used to.

 

"It was quite spacious for a lighthouse but, because it was an iron tower painted black, it was freezing cold in the winter and boiling hot in summer.

 

"The only warmth was from a coal-fired Rayburn where we did all our cooking."

 

He added that working at the tower came with some perks.

 

"Each keeper had their own bedroom - in other lighthouses, keepers shared a room with bunks - so it was quite luxurious. We even had a shower.

 

"There was a relief every fortnight - they delivered food and fresh water, of course, which was stored in the bottom of the tower."