 The Larick Beacon as its shown on admiralty charts (known locally at 'The Pile Lighthouse') makes for some stunning photography. Set 1/3 of a mile Northeast of Tayport waterfront on the South side of the Tay Estuary it is only accessible by boat. Most lighthouse sources have 1845 as its construction date but the British Listed Buildings index has it built in "1848 probably by James Leslie". James Leslie was a Civil engineer who started out with the Dundee water company and worked on many of the piers and harbours of the East coast. Although not an architect he also designed the now very sorry looking 'Dundee Customs House' next to City Quay. Seen looking a little grander here.  The Larick Beacon, inactive since about 1960 is a 16 m (52 ft) tower, with a lantern atop an octagonal wood keeper's quarters, mounted on wood pilings. The resident Gulls have the main claim on it now and have raised the floor level inside by about a foot with 50 years of droppings. Its known as the pile due to its unique construction method of driving screwed piles into sandy or muddy sea bottoms. Below is the Maplin Sands Lighthouse constructed on the Thames in 1938 but undermined and swept away in 1932. It It was the first built using the technique and was pioneered by blind Irish engineer Alexander Mitchell.  As it was 'only' 50 odd years ago this was in service does anyone have any memories of it as a child or heard stories about it? There's very little info on the internet and it would be great to get something on record. Post your Images.
We'd love to hear what you know about it!
13 Comments
vadim
24/9/2017 09:57:09 pm
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vadim
24/9/2017 10:02:39 pm
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Maureen Campbell
2/8/2019 07:54:53 am
Doing a bit of research into the pile lighthouse trying to get some information on who now owns it I’m a Tayport resident who doesn’t want to see it disappear like The tower at Lucky Scaup 1n 1979 I’m trying to let people of Tayport know about it on the I went to Tayport primary Facebook page
Martha Stewart
23/5/2022 09:35:54 am
I have been told that it is the Tayport authority who are responsible for it Given that there are very few pile lights left in the UK you would think they would want to save it. It really is an historical maritime object. There was a couple used to live on it when it operated as a pile light. The people responsible for the lightship in Dundee also should pull their socks up as it is just lying their rusting up. Once these historical maritime artefacts are no longer there there will be no others coming behind to replace them.
Juliette
31/5/2020 02:48:57 pm
I’m trying to find out about anyone that used to sail out and light it.
Samantha Coggins
28/1/2021 08:53:46 pm
I've been doing some family history research, and I believe my 3rd-Great-Grandfather, Sea Captain David Pryde, retired as a lighthouse keeper here. My great aunt had a small write up of him that included, "He retired as a lighthouse keeper on the “Pile” Lighthouse on the mouth of the River Tae and another one on land. He died at 96 as a Harbour Trustee." I haven't been able to find much else out but I figured it was interesting and worth a share if anyone knew more (and to confirm I found the correct lighthouse!)
Barbara Morgan
11/9/2021 02:23:44 pm
My father, Donald MacInnes was one of the lighthouse keepers at West Lights from 1954/55. The other two were Mr Gall, who lived at East Lights and Peter Hunter who also lived in the other house at West Lights. They manned the Pile light on a rota and I think it was for a week at a time. If it was high tide the boat could leave from the back of the house. I accompanied him out a few times. They also lit the lamps in the West Lights until they changed to electric. They were paraffin lamps then and I was allowed to help on occasions. My dad was the last lighthouse keeper there, the other two having retired. He lived there until he died in 1972. 9/10/2022 07:25:33 am
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