Whiteford Lighthouse

The Whiteford Lighthouse stands 14 meters high on a shingle bank at the entrance of Burry River, constructed entirely from bolted cast iron plates.

Built in 1865 by architect John Bowen, this structure replaced an earlier lighthouse that guided ships through the navigable channel leading to Llanelli harbor.

The lighthouse represents a significant period of Victorian engineering, demonstrating the 19th-century shift toward using cast iron in maritime construction methods.

Access to the lighthouse requires careful timing as the structure becomes surrounded by up to 6 meters of water during high tide periods.

This structure remains the last surviving wave-swept cast-iron lighthouse in British coastal waters, supported by 88 wooden piles driven into glacial moraine.

Location: Llangennith, Llanmadoc and Cheriton

Inception: 1854

Architects: John Bowen

Elevation above the sea: 0 m

Height: 14 m

GPS coordinates: 51.65250,-4.25102

Latest update: May 19, 2025 14:02