Telford Beacon


(Telford Light)

A small disused lighthouse on the Dundee Waterfront, the Telford Beacon lies next to the northern landfall of the Tay Road Bridge, a quarter-mile (0.4 km) southeast of the city centre. Comprising a narrow cylindrical tower of sandstone ashlar with a white cast-iron lantern, the structure was built c.1834 by harbour engineer James Leslie (1801-89). Leslie had been advised by the noted engineer Thomas Telford (1757 - 1834) and the light was named in his honour.

The beacon was designed as the leading light to direct ships into the harbour and was located on the wharf which stood between the King William IV dock and the tidal harbour. These harbours were infilled prior to the building of the bridge and the light was left marooned between its access roads. On 23rd November 2010, the B-listed beacon was moved back to the water's edge as part of the Dundee Waterfront redevelopment, which involved re-alignment of the bridge's approach ramps. The entire structure was lifted in one piece by a crane to its new position. In 2018, works took place around the base of the tower to complete flood defences on the north bank of the River Tay.


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