(Image: Rick Ford/Google Maps)
Unexplained sounds, vanishing tools, and cold spots are just some of the eerie tales surrounding a historic coastal landmark.
Souter Lighthouse has long been a source of intrigue, blending a proud history of Victorian engineering with a reputation for the paranormal.
Built in 1871 and designed by James Douglass for Trinity House, the lighthouse was the first in the UK to be purpose-built for electric lighting and remains one of the earliest of its kind in the world.
Its 75-foot tower once helped guide ships away from the hazardous reefs of Whitburn Steel, with a powerful carbon arc light powered by machinery in the engine house.
Although it was decommissioned in 1988 after 117 years of service and later ceased operating as a radio navigation beacon in 1999, Souter’s legacy lives on through the stories that surround it.
Haunted by colliery worker
The Tyne and Wear Historic Environment Record notes that the lighthouse is believed to be haunted by the spirit of a former keeper and a man named Bob, a colliery worker who reportedly died at the lighthouse in the 1930s.
According to the record, objects have mysteriously disappeared from the engine room, often accompanied by the scent of tobacco smoke.
According to the historic environment record: "There have also been reports of a figure walking along the corridor leading towards the staircase.
"Even more unsettling are stories from the kitchen, where female members of staff have reportedly felt themselves grabbed by unseen hands and had cutlery pulled from their hands."
Strange smells and odd occurrences
Another figure said to haunt the site is Isobella Darling, niece of the famous Victorian heroine Grace Darling.
Historical records confirm that Isobella once lived at the lighthouse, and staff have reported cold spots, strange smells, and odd occurrences in the kitchen and living areas.
The lighthouse’s haunted reputation has even earned it a spot on the paranormal television show Most Haunted, which aired an episode from the location in the early 2000s.
More recently, it featured as the backdrop to an episode of Antiques Roadshow.
(Image: BBC Studios)
But the building’s dramatic setting also adds to its mystique.
It stands above 2.5 miles of rugged clifftop scenery, with Marsden Bay to the north and Whitburn Coastal Park to the south.
The truth behind its name
Despite its name, Souter Lighthouse actually stands at Lizard Point, not Souter Point.
The original plan was to build it at Souter Point, but Lizard Point was chosen for its higher elevation and improved visibility.
The name was retained to avoid confusion with Lizard Lighthouse in Cornwall.
Read More:
Now cared for by the National Trust, Souter Lighthouse remains a popular visitor destination.
Guests can explore the tower, engine room, keeper’s accommodation, and surrounding coastline.
Whether visitors come for the history, the views, or a brush with the supernatural, Souter Lighthouse continues to cast a long and mysterious shadow over the coast.