Black Nore Lighthouse was built on a coastal outcrop at Portishead by Trinity House in 1894. Its purpose was to be a navigation aid for shipping heading for the port of Avonmouth or the River Avon. There is no vehicular access to it – the lighthouse can only be accessed via the coastal footpath. Links to the coastal footpath at Black Nore are available at the junction of Glenwood Rise & Nore Road and at the northern end of the cul-de-sac called Pinecroft.
Despite its name, the lighthouse is painted white. It is made of riveted cast iron, has six legs and is 11 metres high. The outcrop on which it was constructed, was built up with masonry to form a platform. There is a ladder underneath it, which leads up to an entrance hatch. Its lamp was originally powered by gas. The mechanism had to be wound every day and this task was undertaken by members of the Ashford family, who lived nearby at Black Nore Farm. The light was converted to electricity and automated in 1941, so that it could be switched off during air raids. The winding and drive mechanisms were replaced by an electric motor in 2000.
The lighthouse was decommissioned by Trinity House on 27th September 2010 and the internal mechanism was removed. It was sold to a community interest company in October 2011 for £1. They have pledged to keep it as a monument on the coast for everyone to enjoy. It has been a grade II listed building since June 2011.
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