Whiteford Lighthouse is a Grade II* listed building in the local planning authority area, Wales. First listed on 3 March 2000. Lighthouse.

Whiteford Lighthouse

WRENN ID
outer-sentry-laurel
Grade
II*
Local Planning Authority
Constituency
Gower MP: Tonia Antoniazzi (Lab)
Country
Wales
Date first listed
3 March 2000
Type
Lighthouse
Address
Whiteford Lighthouse, Swansea, Llangennith, Llanmadoc and Cheriton
OS grid reference
SS 443 972
Coordinates
51.65255, -4.25104
Source
Cadw listing

Also on this page: flood risk · radon risk · weather exposure · detailed attributes ↓

Description

Whiteford Lighthouse is a 19th-century structure built of cast iron plates that are externally flanged and bolted together in seven rings, tapering from about 6½ metres in diameter at the base to about 3½ metres at the top. The external positioning of the flanges is an unusual detail, the reason for which is not explained. The lighthouse rises to over 15 metres high, featuring a gallery, a final ring of cast-iron plates, and a lantern. At high tide, the lighthouse stands in 6 metres of water. Wrought iron bands have been added near the base to strengthen the structure.

The main gallery is supported by iron balusters linked at the top by trefoils and carried on bellied iron beams. Access to the gallery and the interior was originally provided by an external ladder, which is now mostly missing. The lantern consists of three rows of sixteen rectangular panes with copper glazing bars, and the lantern roof was originally made of copper.

The lowest part of the lighthouse is believed to be filled with stone, and there appear to have been two rooms at the top for lighthouse keepers.

Local climate

Whiteford Lighthouse sits in one of the wettest parts of the UK, with an average of 1,410 mm of rain a year. This makes it wetter than 97% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is greater than that of 99% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 9 freeze-thaw cycles a year, fewer than 91% of listed buildings. Of these, 3 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.

Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.

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