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| Orfordness Lighthouse |
2023 - "The Lighthouse" by James Bickers
Please click on the link below to listen to this composition.
2020 - Shining a Light on Orfordness Lighthouse (01/10/2020)
Matt Marvel brings you a special about Orfordness Lighthouse in Suffolk on BBC Radio Suffolk.
Please click play below to listen.
2020 - The Final Chapter.
Today, the dismantling of Orfordness Lighthouse commenced.
A sad day for the Underwood family and to all those who will miss seeing it standing proud on the Orford coastline.
The following is an interview between Adrian Underwood and Lesley Dolphin from BBC Radio Suffolk, that took place on the 17th July 2020, discussing memories and feelings about the dismantling of Orfordness Lighthouse.
Please click play below to listen.
2015 - A Tribute to Orfordness Lighthouse by Veronica Worrall.
This film celebrates the life of Orfordness Lighthouse.
It was made as part of HLF Landscape Partnership Scheme, Touching the Tide.
It was first shown in Orford on 11th September 2015 at The Lighthouse Exhibition and was made by Veronica Worall.
Please click on the link below to view this excellent and moving film:
2015 - “The Guiding Light” by Adrian Underwood
Copyright ©2025 Adrian Underwood
2011 - BBC News- 18th August 2011
Please click on the following link to read the BBC News report:
2011 - BBC Suffolk - 13th January 2011
Please click on the following link to read the report by Andrew Woodger:
2010 - Discontinuation of Aids to Navigation at Orfordness.
The beginning of the end appears to be underway for Orfordness Lighthouse in 2010.
This was announced in the TRINITY HOUSE 2010 – Aids to Navigation Review
2010 - BBC News - 13th May 2010
Please click on the following link to read the BBC News report:
2010 - BBC News - 18th April 2010
Please click on the following link to read the report by Zeb Soanes:
2008 - East Anglian Daily Times 30th September 2008
Please click on the following picture to read "Tribute to a 'guiding light' gets worldwide audience - by Sheena Grant.
2001 - Photograph of Lighthouse Lamps at The Jolly Sailor - Orford
This photograph was taken in the bar of The Jolly Sailor - Orford in October 2001.
The lamps displayed (from left to right) are from the sector light, the main light, in use between 1959 and 1991, and the main light in use between 1991 and 2000.
In 2000 the main light lamp was replaced by a 70-watt 12 volt metal halide lamp which runs off batteries.
Many thanks to Ian Ridpath for providing this information. These lamps are still on display today in The Jolly Sailor.
1993 - Charlie Underwood at the Lighthouse
1993 -Entrance Porch
Above the door into the tower from the entrance porch is the date the lighthouse was built. It is displayed in Roman numerals (see picture below):
1992 - Bicentenary
In 1992 Orfordness lighthouse was opened to the public during the summer to celebrate it’s bicentenary.
The opening was reported on Anglia News on 9th June 1992 and BBC Look East on 28th July 1992.
Please click videos below to see the clips of the news reports:
Anglia News
1992 - Anglia TV - A Village in Suffolk presented by Paul Barnes
The following extract was taken from Anglia TV’s “A Village in...” series when they came to Orford.
It was presented by Paul Barnes and aired on 5th April 1992. This clip below shows Paul speaking with Charlie Underwood at the Lighthouse.
1992 - BBC Radio Suffolk - A Visit to the Lighthouse
The following recording was made by BBC Radio Suffolk when Charlie Underwood took John Ely, one of their reporters, for a visit to the Lighthouse.
Unfortunately I do not have the exact date of the transmission, however I hope you enjoy listening to the journey from Orford Quay to the top of the Lighthouse.
The length of this audio clip is 43 mins. Click below to play the clip.
1971 - Guinness Book of Records
In the 1971 edition of the Guinness Book of Records it was incorrectly reported that Orfordness Lighthouse was the brightest Lighthouse in the United Kingdom. The extract from that edition, on page 120, reads:
“The lighthouse in the United Kingdom with the most powerful light is the shorelight Orfordness, Suffolk. It has an intensity of 7,500,000 candelas. The Irish Light with the greatest intensity is Aranmore on Rinrawros Point, County Donegal.”
This was retracted in the subsequent edition and it is not known how the error occurred. The actual intensity at the time was 5,000,000 candelas.
The current lamp and optic configuration of the Lighthouse produces 635,000 candelas.