*Looking across the Lune from the south of Sunderland Point towards Plover Scar Lighthouse: From a private collection*

To the South of Sunderland Point, across the estuary, lies Plover Scar lighthouse. Built on a rocky outcrop in 1847, The lighthouse is one of a pair of lights, which together once guided ships safely into the Lune estuary.

A second beacon, known as the ‘Abbey Light’ was built atop a wooden tower near the site of the old Cockersand Abbey. The Commissioners of St. George’s Quay issued a ‘Notice to Mariners’ announcing the starting of the new lights on the 21st February 1848.

For ships approaching the River Lune, when the two lights were aligned one above the other the correct course into the channel could be steered.

The light at Plover Scar was lower than the onshore light so corrections could be made to the course to align both vertically on approaching the estuary. If the lower light was to the left of the upper, the helmsman should steer northwards. If the lower light was to the right of the upper, he should steer southwards. Two lights set up in this way are know as ‘Leading Lights’ because they lead the way.

The map below shows the location of the two lights and the directions and arcs of the lamps in each.

*The two lights align to show the way . The arcs show the visibility area out to sea - Underlying Map: Ordnance Survey*

Inbound, once a ship passed the Plover Scar light, ‘Abeam to Starboard’, she could turn northwards into the buoyed channel and towards the dock at Glasson, or go upriver to Lancaster. Alternatively, the ship could be met by a pilot to be guided upriver.

The Plover Scar Light also showed a second smaller light pointing up-channel to assist vessels leaving the Lune seawards.

The lights are shown below. The Abbey Light was 54 feet high and supported by eight sturdy wooden beams. A store-room and accommodation for the light-keeper and family was built at its base. Fifty steps led to the lantern room at the top. The light itself was provided by two paraffin oil lamps, each with a 1 inch flat wick. The lamps had silver-mirrored copper reflectors and could be seen at a distance of 9 miles on a clear day.

The Plover Scar light was mounted on top of a stone built column, 30 feet high. Access to the light was possible at low tide across the shore and a small causeway. A 25 rung steel ladder climbed the side to the entrance door. Originally the lighthouse was manned and the keeper had to live in a small circular room 6 feet in diameter! After a short time the role was transferred to the keeper at the Abbey light.

Lighthouse duties

The Upper and Lowers lights would be visited twice each day. In the morning the lamps would be turned off. The reflectors would be cleaned and the wicks trimmed. The lamps had glass chimneys which also had to be cleaned. The oil reservoir would be checked and replenished if needed, the lamps used about 3 gallons of paraffin each week. They would be visited before dusk and lit for the night.

The Raby family were keepers from the start in 1847 to 1945. Francis Raby was the first keeper, followed by Henry Raby in the late 1870s. Janet and Richard Raby shared duty until 31 Dec 1945. Thomas Parkinson was appointed keeper on 1st January 1946. His wife, Beatrice and son Robert assisted him with his tasks, particularly during the salmon fishing season in summer.

Thomas and Beatrice Parkinson - the last keepers
Image: Bob Parkinson

The accommodation at the base of the tower was eventually replaced by the provision of a cottage at the site. This cottage still exists, at the end of ‘Slack Lane’ and is now privately owned, it has a Sandstone plaque built into the wall naming it ‘Lighthouse Cottage’.

*Lighthouse Cottage, Cockersand : Image: Courtesy of Alan Smith*

The last female lighthouse keepers are now celebrated with a plaque dedicated to Janet Raby and Beatrice Parkinson.

The life of the lighthouse keepers was very harsh, requiring visits twice each day to both lanterns.

You can see a film about Beatrice Parkinson made by British Pathe in 1948 here: Lighthouse 1948

Building the lights

Responsibility was in the hands of the Port Commissioners. This was a group of local people who had shipping interests at Lancaster. In 1845 they were approached by the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway who wanted to build a bridge across the Lune to carry their railway. The Commissioners permitted a bridge downstream of St. George’s Quay and the railway paid £16,500 compensation for loss of trade on the Quay and Warehouses.

An additional £10,000 was paid - and under the direction of the Admiralty - to improve to the navigation of the river. £2,000 of this money was used to fund the two lights at the river entrance. John. B. Hartley of Liverpool submitted designs for the lights, and the Commissioners requested tenders for the building of the lighthouses. Charles Blades and his partner James Hatch from Lancaster, were awarded the the building contract - £650 for the Abbey Light and £1,020 for Plover Scar.

A Stevenson lighthouse lamp of the 19th Century (glass chimney not shown) Image: National Library of Scotland

Modern Times

In 1951 the lighting system for Plover Scar was changed to Acetylene burners and at the Abbey light to Electric. The daily visits were no longer required, the keeper just needed to check once a month. The gas cylinder was replace every 6 weeks by the port authorities.

Onshore at the Abbey Light, the old wooden tower was replaced with a steel tower and electric beacon in 1953. The wooden tower was demolished in 1954.

With the age of automation and improved navigation the need for the Upper light ceased and the steel tower was removed in the early 1960’s, and the last family of lighthouse keepers, Thomas and Beatrice Parkinson, retired on 31st May 1963.

Collision!

*A large ship passes Plover Scar: Image: Paul Iddon*

One night, in March 2016, the Plover Scar light house was struck by a merchant ship passing upriver towards Glasson Dock. The collision moved the upper courses of stones of the Lighthouse tower. The steel reinforcement hoops around the stonework were broken but the light itself continued to work. Substantial repairs were required and in that September the top part of the light was dismantled and rebuilt. At the same time the lantern house was repaired and refurbished.