| Portland Breakwater Lighthouse | |
| Location: | Isle of Portland Dorset England |
| Coordinates: | 50.5859°N -2.4179°W |
| Yearbuilt: | 1905 |
| Construction: | cast iron skeletal tower |
| Shape: | hexagonal pyramidal tower with central cylinder, balcony and lantern |
| Marking: | white tower and lantern |
| Characteristic: | Fl W 10s. |
| Managingagent: | Portland Harbour Authority[1] |
The Portland Breakwater Lighthouse is a functioning lighthouse located at Portland Harbour, Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It is situated on the southern end of the north-east breakwater.[2]
The lighthouse, a white hexagonal cast-iron structure, was established in 1905.[3] [4] Built by Chance Brothers, initially it displayed a white flash every five seconds and had a visible range of .[5] It was also provided with a fog bell, sounding once every ten seconds in foggy weather.
The light was originally lit by oil, later changed to gas and is today lit electrically with a modern LED lamp.[6] [7] The light was owned by the Admiralty, but managed by Trinity House (who, until the light was automated in the late 1960s, provided three resident keepers accommodated in a nearby dwelling on the breakwater).
The lighthouse was restored and repainted in 1995, prior to the closure of Portland Naval Base; subsequently, ownership of the lighthouse (along with the harbour as a whole) was vested in Portland Port Ltd, and the Portland Harbour Authority took over its management.
The lighthouse underwent restoration again in 2016.[8] The lighthouse's current use continues to aid navigation of boats in the area, warning mariners of the breakwaters by giving a white flash every 10 seconds.[4] Surrounding the lighthouse are various defensive buildings such as pillboxes.[9]
The former optic from the lighthouse has been placed in Weymouth Museum.[10]
In a 2005 newsletter of the South Dorset Amateur Radio, former keeper John Trotter recalled memories of the lighthouse:[6] [7]