Telford Light, Dundee

Telford Beacon, a former harbour light located on Dundee Waterfront, dates to around 1834. Built by James Leslie in consultation with Thomas Telford, it formerly acted as the leading light on the wharf which stood between the King William IV dock and the tidal harbour.

Telford Beacon is a cylindrical sandstone tower with a sandstone ashlar shaft, and long narrow courses. There is a stepped base course, a dog-toothed band course and a cornice above. On the top of the sandstone tower is a castellated parapet and a cast iron lantern with a domed cap. The light is no longer in use and the lantern glass is no longer present.

Historical development

Telford Beacon was built around 1834 as part of a complex of four large docks in this area of Dundee along with related shipbuilding facilities. Thomas Telford began designing improvements for Dundee harbour in 1815. In 1825 he consulted with James Leslie on the construction of the King William Dock and its associated tidal harbour. This was followed in 1834 by the adjacent Earl Grey Dock, with the Camperdown and Victoria Docks to the east being added in 1865 and 1875 respectively.

Telford Beacon is shown as a fixed red harbour light on the Ordnance Survey First Edition map (surveyed 1860-62, published 1865) and Second Edition map (surveyed 1901, published 1903). It formerly stood on the west side of the entrance to the King William IV dock. The lantern for the light appears to have been replaced in the 1880s.

The former harbour light remained in use until the King William IV dock was infilled in the 1960s, as part of the construction of the Tay Road Bridge, specifically the roads connecting to the north end of the bridge. The light itself remained in situ, although inactive, despite the infilling of the dock.

In 2011, Telford Beacon was moved from its location to a new site a short distance away on the shoreline to the east (see listed building consent:10/00322/LBC), as the Dundee Waterfront regeneration project realigned roadways connecting to the Tay Road Bridge. The project involved lifting the entire beacon in one piece and whilst keeping it upright transporting it to its new location overlooking the River Tay.