Cromer Lighthouse

Cromer Lighthouse situated in the town of Cromer on the coast in the English county of Norfolk.HistoryThere has been a lighthouse on the cliff top at Foulness, east of the town of Cromer since 1669. Before this time a light was shone from the top of Cromer parish church to act as a guide to passing shipping. Although this light was small it had always been useful, as had many similar ecclesiastical lights that were dotted around the coastline of Great Britain from medieval times.New proposalsSir John Clayton proposed a lighthouse at Foulness, Cromer along with five other lighthouses on four different sites. He planned lights at the Farne Islands off Northumberland, Flamborough Head in Yorkshire and Corton close to Lowestoft in Suffolk. In 1669 Clayton and his partner George Blake received the comprehensive patent for the four sites and work began to erect the lighthouses. Each tower cost the partners £3,000 and their patent would last for 60 years with specified rates to be paid by the owners of passing vessels, though dues were only paid voluntarily.