Berwick Lighthouse Turns 200: A Landmark Worth Celebrating

At the end of Berwick’s long pier, where the River Tweed meets the North Sea, stands one of the town’s most familiar sights. With its distinctive red and white stripes, Berwick Lighthouse has guided vessels towards the harbour and become an enduring part of the town’s coastline for two centuries.

200 Years of Berwick’s Maritime History

Built in 1826, the lighthouse was designed by Joseph Nelson following the completion of Berwick Pier the previous year. Its light was first lit on 10 October 1826.

Two hundred years later, it remains a striking feature of the coastline and a wonderful reminder of Berwick-upon-Tweed’s long relationship with the sea.

There is something special about walking out along the pier towards the lighthouse. Behind you are the rooftops, historic walls and bridges of Berwick; ahead lies the open North Sea.

On a calm day, it is a beautiful place to pause and take in the view. When the wind rises and the waves roll in, it is easy to imagine just how welcome the lighthouse must have been to generations of seafarers approaching the harbour.

Celebrating Berwick Lighthouse at 200

This October marks the lighthouse’s 200th anniversary, with a special Lighthouse 200 programme celebrating the people, history and stories connected with this much-loved local landmark.

Events are taking place across Berwick and Spittal during October, giving locals and visitors alike another reason to explore the town, enjoy the coast and discover more about the lighthouse’s remarkable history.

Here at Elm Bank Coastal Park, we’ll be marking the occasion too. On Saturday 17 October, owners are invited to join our Sunset Toast to Berwick Lighthouse, raising a glass from their decking as the sun goes down in celebration of 200 years of this iconic landmark.

A Landmark on Our Doorstep

One of the pleasures of spending time at Elm Bank Coastal Park is having so much of Berwick and the Northumberland coast within easy reach.

Whether you have known Berwick for years or are discovering it for the first time, a walk along the pier to the lighthouse is well worth adding to your list.

It is part of the landscape, part of Berwick’s history and, after 200 years, still a familiar sight welcoming people to this very special corner of the coast.

Happy 200th anniversary, Berwick Lighthouse. Here’s to the stories it holds and the memories still to be made beside it.