Restoration of the Lighthouse
Port of Tyne: South Pier
Working from historic blueprints, the component parts of the roof were assembled in our workshop, with the processes documented for future reference.
The reinstallation of the dome was obviously weather dependent and required considerable planning and skill – with the crane operator loading up at our workshop, carefully making progress along the pier and precisely positioning the replacement parts onto the remaining structure.
The operation was carried out in perfect conditions, as both wind or rain would have made the lift impossible. The local media were also impressed with the performance, featuring on the BBC news and in the local papers.
Project Description
Project: Restoration of the Lighthouse
Location: Port of Tyne: South Pier
Ships entering the Port of Tyne enter the river between two iconic piers located to the North and South, at Tyneside and South Shields, both piers also feature a lighthouse to guide entry and act as a warning to shipping at night and during foul weather.
In October 2023, Storm Babet hit with waves 30 feet high, coupled with extreme winds. Both piers were damaged, but in particular, the dome of the South Pier Lighthouse was swept into the sea and lost.
Lost Art Limited were commissioned to produce and install a replica, replacement dome (including the weathervane to the top of the structure). This became one of our more interesting and unusual restoration challenges, not least as the pier on which the lighthouse stands extends over a mile into The North Sea.
An aid to navigation for over 100 years, the dome features a copper covered roof, topped by a cylindrical structure that carries the weathervane.
