Advantages and Disadvantages of Lofty Headland Lighthouse Placement

While lighthouses are a 'greatest blessing' in navigation, their effectiveness depends significantly on their positioning^[1]. A key consideration is avoiding excessive height. Placing a light upon a lofty headland might seem advantageous, but often proves detrimental^[1]. According to the text, 'the danger-signal may be one of many kinds—a misty, star-like glimmer thrown from a buoy dancing on the waves, the radiant orb from a lightship bobbing up and down and swinging rhythmically to and fro, a fixed flare-light, or dazzling, spoke-like rays revolving across the sky'^[1]. In reality, elevated lights run the risk of being obscured by low-lying clouds or mist^[1]. This is explicitly mentioned in reference to the Beachy Head lighthouse:

The text details a central problem of lights on headlands is that 'it does not serve as an aid, but more often than not as a danger, to navigation, owing to the light being invisible at the time when its assistance is required and sought most urgently'^[1]. This is because lights placed too high are frequently 'blotted out by the ruffle of mist which gathers around Beachy Head on the approach of evening'^[1]. The original Beachy Head lighthouse was built on the crown of a precipice at 285 feet above the water. The old Beachy Head light, owing to its height, was not considered satisfactory^[1].

Because of the risk of lights at high altitudes being obscured, lighthouse engineers 'endeavour to set their towers at such a level that the light is not raised more than from 160 to 200 feet above the water'^[1]. This ensures better visibility in a variety of weather conditions^[1].

The high position of these lights was not the only problem. The old Beachy Head light was threatened environmentally. At Beachy Head, 'a further reason for a new structure was the disintegration of the cliff upon which the light stood, under the terrific poundings of the sea, huge falls of chalk having occurred from time to time, which imperilled the safety of the building'^[1]. Because of concerns about the cliff's stability, the new Beachy Head lighthouse was constructed at sea level^[1].