St Mary's Island Lighthouse, Keepers' Cottages and Compound Walls

MATERIALS: the lighthouse is of brick with cement render with a metal roof and the lighthouse keepers’ cottages are of Heworth sandstone with slate coverings.

PLAN: the lighthouse and lighthouse keepers’ cottages are prominently situated on the eastern side of the island. The keepers’ cottages are rectangular and are linked to the circular lighthouse by a modern covered walkway; the lighthouse complex is set within a stone-walled compound, the walls of which extend and encircle the island on the north, east and south sides.

EXTERIOR: white painted tower, 126ft tall with scattered fenestration; all window frames are timber casement replacements. The storm panes of the lantern room have diagonal astragals with hand holds, and there is a domed metal roof surmounted by a weather vane; a gallery with a metal balustrade and decorative finials encircles the lamp room. The Trinity House Coat of Arms is displayed on the west side. The single storey range linking the lighthouse to the keepers’ cottages is a modern replacement. The lighthouse keepers’ cottage is a substantial stone building, now painted white, of two storeys and four bays with prominent quoins. It has a hipped roof of slate with four tall brick chimney stacks. The west elevation has three ground floor windows with an entrance porch occupying bay three, and four windows on the first floor, the left end blocked. Windows and doors have quoined surrounds and all windows are fitted with modern casements. A single storey flat roofed bay with a single window is appended to the south gable end. The east elevation mirrors that of the west.

INTERIOR: the lighthouse has a spiral staircase, comprising 137 steps, with an original handrail of metal stick balusters (now infilled with perspex and with a raised safety rail) occupies the body of the tower. This gives access to the upper service room, which is entered through a part glazed four-panelled door and retains a large wooden and glazed cabinet with a curved front reflecting the shape of the circular tower walls. A metal ladder stair with brass handrails to either side gives access up to the lantern room, which retains the original wind vents and baffles, and has a door giving access to the gallery. At its centre sits the replacement kerosene lantern from Withernsea Lighthouse. The adjacent lighthouse keepers’ cottages have been converted to a visitor centre over both floors leading to the loss of the original two-dwelling plan and most original features. Original features remaining include most of the architraves, one fire-place opening to the eastern cottage and a simple stick baluster staircase to the western cottage.