St Catherine's Oratory

St Catherine's Oratory is an octagonal stone tower on the southern coast of Isle of Wight with four stories and a pyramidal roof. The structure stands roughly 11 meters tall and appears as a compact, rounded form against the open landscape.

Walter de Godeton built this structure in 1328 as penance after taking wine from a shipwrecked vessel belonging to the Church. The tower rose during an era when shipwrecks were common along this rocky coast.

Local people call the tower the 'Pepperpot' because its shape resembles a condiment shaker. Visitors notice this distinctive outline right away when walking across the Down.

Access requires roughly a 400-meter walk across fields from the car park to reach the base. The route includes steep stairs you should be aware of, especially in wet weather when the ground becomes slippery.

This is Britain's only remaining medieval lighthouse, with only the Roman lighthouse at Dover being older across northern Europe. Its survival makes it a rare example of shippping technology from the 14th century.

Location: Chale

Inception: 1328

Height: 11 m

Made from material: stone

Website: https://english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/st-catherines-oratory

GPS coordinates: 50.59315,-1.30396

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:00