Scheduled Monuments›England›Old quay and old quay lighthouse

Old quay and old quay lighthouse

England

List entry 1004593

Nation

England

The designation

Reference

List entry 1004593

Authority

Historic England (NHLE)

Status

Scheduled Monument

Scheduled area

0.55 hectares

Grid reference

NX 96986 18394

Boundary

Scheduled area

Overview

History & significance

Old Quay is an ancient monument in Cumberland, England, comprising the remains of a medieval harbour structure and associated lighthouse. The quay dates from the medieval period and represents evidence of commercial activity and maritime infrastructure from that era. The lighthouse, known as Old Quay Lighthouse, stands as a later addition to the site, reflecting the continued importance of the location for navigation and harbour operations. Together, these structures illustrate the development of maritime facilities along the Cumberland coast and the practical engineering solutions employed to manage harbour access and shipping safety across successive historical periods.

Old quay and old quay lighthouse is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1004593. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Old quay and old quay lighthouse?

Old Quay is an ancient monument in Cumberland, England, comprising the remains of a medieval harbour structure and associated lighthouse. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1004593.

Who is responsible for protecting Old quay and old quay lighthouse?

Old quay and old quay lighthouse is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1004593.

What other scheduled monuments are near Old quay and old quay lighthouse?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Whitehaven Old Fort, an 18th century coastal battery overlooking Whitehaven Harbour and an associated lime kiln, 80m west of the southern end of Old Quay (0.2 km), Duke Pit fan house (0.3 km), Haig Colliery (0.8 km).

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Everything a full report reveals about Old quay and old quay lighthouse

This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 15 strands of Old quay and old quay lighthouse's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with every monument and battle plotted, and a plain-language history built only from what the record holds.

Monuments

The legally protected scheduled monuments around the location, each with its period, type and significance.

Battlefields

The battles and sieges fought on this ground, mapped and set on a timeline of the wider conflict.

Roman Britain

The Roman roads, forts and towns near here, and the Iron Age people who held the land before Rome arrived.

Domesday

The settlement's entry in the 1086 Domesday Book: who held it, what it was worth, and the people who worked the land.

Civil War

The Civil War fighting, garrisons and recorded militaria in this area, woven into the arc of 1642 to 1651.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back hundreds of millions of years.

LiDAR

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks hidden under fields and woodland, with likely features flagged.

Local Names

What the street and field names around here actually mean, and the history buried inside them.

Historical Maps

Ordnance Survey maps from the 1800s, layered over the location as it stands today.

Literature

The books, county histories, charters and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Legal

The protected sites nearby and the metal-detecting, access and treasure laws that apply to this ground.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Target Zones

For detectorists: the most promising ground to search nearby, ranked by confidence, with what to expect.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from prehistory to the present day.

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Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

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Nearby

Other scheduled monuments within 10 km

Whitehaven Old Fort, an 18th century coastal battery overlooking Whitehaven Harbour and an associated lime kiln, 80m west of the southern end of Old Quay

Barrowmouth gypsum and alabaster mine at Saltom Bay

The ground beneath

The bedrock under Old quay and old quay lighthouse

Old quay and old quay lighthouse stands on Late Carboniferous claystone, bedrock that formed in the Late Carboniferous. The rock here is major:{claystone}, Minor{siltstone,sandstone,coal}.

All Scheduled Monuments