Tourist attraction lighthouse rewired

Mar 13 2008 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

IT has been a case of many hands make light work at a National Trust landmark.

The task of completely rewiring Souter Lighthouse on The Leas in South Tyneside began in early January with an eight-strong team from North-East company Bartram Walker.

Now the final touches are being made to allow the lighthouse to reopen to visitors on Good Friday, March 21.

The project at the 75ft-high lighthouse cost more than £100,000, which was financed by the National Trust’s building project fund.

The job took over 5,000 metres of cable and 130 new fittings, and has resulted in a more energy efficient system.

The historic venue, opened in 1871, was the first lighthouse in the world to be purpose built to use electricity for its main light, which came from a steam-powered generator. It was altered to use an oil-fuelled light in 1919, and reverted back to using electricity in the 1950s. Nick Dolan, property manager at Souter Lighthouse, said: “It was a challenging project. Souter is like a big house with a lot of eccentric spaces and a lot of decisions had to be made about the best way of proceeding.

“We had to make sure that the historic building was treated with integrity.

“The electricians have done a great job, and though it has been hard work for them and the staff at Souter it has been a worthwhile project, and a very necessary one.

“The electricians uncovered some of the old cables from the 1950s, and over the years additional wires had been added as the use of the building evolved.

“Now we can be reassured that the work now will stand us in good stead for the future, and make us more energy-efficient.”

From Good Friday, the property will be open daily except Fridays from 11am to 5pm.

The project follows the complete rewiring of the National Trust’s Cragside House in Northumberland.

Other Trust properties in the region will open this Saturday, March 15.

Thanks to money raised through raffle ticket sales at Lindisfarne Castle, the Trust has been able to purchase a dramatic moonlight oil painting by John Moore showing the Castle Point lime kilns ablaze in the foreground.

The painting, dated 1877, is the only known illustration of these lime kilns in production and will be on show at the castle. Catherine Atkinson, property manager at Lindisfarne Castle, said: “The painting shows this most wonderful scene with shadows moving across the moon and the lime kilns actually working.

“I am delighted because the lime kilns are a really important part of Northumberland history.”

The painting was bought at a Christies auction in London last year and has spent the winter being cleaned, conserved and restored by Jim Devenport, a fine art conservator from Humshaugh, Hexham.

National Trust property Gibside, near Rowlands Gill, has a new wildlife hide in its woodland, while at Cragside this year will see the restoration of the iron bridge which connects the house with its formal gardens.