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The first foundations of the pier were laid in 1854, using 3,000 tonnes of stone in what was one of the most difficult construction projects of its kind at the time. The pier was completed in 1895 but, just two years later, it was almost completely destroyed by a huge storm that left the lighthouse completely separated from the land. In 1909 the pier was rebuilt by John Wolfe-Barry, celebrated for his world-famous design and construction of the Tower Bridge in London. Of the three fully functional lighthouses on the River Tyne, this one on the north pier is the tallest at 26 metres, emitting a white navigation light that over-arches the horizon for 26 miles. Its lens rotates every 10 seconds with 3 white flashes as the foghorn of the tower gives one blast every 10 seconds to aid with navigation during times of reduced visibility. For a selection of detailed free to download walking routes in the area visit Link