Pilots and Lighthouse Keepers

Trinity House

The History

Lighthouse keepers were required to maintain lighthouses waning of danger from sand or rocks around the coast of the UK.

Trinity House was first mentioned in the time of King Henry 8th as a group of mariners  regulating passage of ships.

In 1609 they constructed their first lighthouse in the sandbanks at Lowestoft, Suffolk.

They quickly grew to be responsible for pilots and lighthouses around the UK.

By the late 1900's automation meant that many lighthouses no longer required manning.

What records can you find?

Trinity house suffered three fires in 1666, 1714 and 1940 each of which destroyed some records.

Trinity house still hold some staff records dating back to 1894 which are available to the public.

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Most of their older records have been transferred to the City of London Guildhall Museum.

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A searchable  list of lighthouses and lighthousemen is provided on genuki.