The Corporation of Trinity House of Deptford Strond has a long and interesting history that began officially in May 1514.
This timeline offers a glance at some of the milestones.
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1514
Royal Charter granted on 20 May by Henry VIII to the Corporation of Trinity House; Sir Thomas Spert is the first Master
1566
Elizabeth I grants to Trinity House the power to build lighthouses and other seamarks for the protection of seafarers
1594
Elizabeth I confers upon Trinity House ballastage rights on the Thames, an important early income for the charity
1604
James I grants Trinity House rights concerning the compulsory pilotage of shipping, and the exclusive right to license pilots in the River Thames
1609
We build our first lighthouses at Lowestoft, to protect shipping along the coast of East Anglia
1676
Renowned diarist and Naval Administrator Samuel Pepys is elected Master of Trinity House
1685
James II issues a renewed Royal Charter to Trinity House; this document is still the foundation of our authority today
1698
Eddystone Lighthouse becomes the first rock lighthouse in Europe, built by Henry Winstanley; it is destroyed by a storm in 1703
1732
The first lightvessel in the world is moored near the Nore Sands at the mouth of the River Thames
1759
The third Eddystone Lighthouse is built; pioneering civil engineer John Smeaton uses dovetailed stone blocks in the shape of an oak tree
1796
We build our current headquarters at Tower Hill in the City of London. Today the Grade I Listed building is one of London’s most prestigious venues
1803
The Blackwall workshops are established alongside the Thames, becoming a hub for engineering and lighthouse keeper training
1836
Trinity House is given compulsory powers to acquire and maintain all private lighthouses
1838
Grace Darling, the daughter of the keeper at Longstone Lighthouse, rows out to save nine victims of the wrecked Forfarshire steamer
1858
Electricity introduced to the first Trinity House lighthouse at South Foreland Lighthouse
1882
The present Eddystone Lighthouse (the fourth to be established), designed by Sir James Douglass, is completed
1940
The Trinity House headquarters in London is destroyed during the Blitz. The house is faithfully restored in 1953
1958
Almshouses for retired mariners are built at Walmer, Kent, the latest in a tradition predating even our first Royal Charter
1969
First reliefs of lighthouse keepers by helicopters are trialled
1977
Last oil burning light removed from a Trinity House lighthouse at St. Mary’s Bay, Tynemouth
1982
Eddystone Lighthouse becomes the first Trinity House rock lighthouse to be converted to automatic operation; THV Patricia is delivered
1989
Lightsmen are withdrawn from the Channel station, the last manned Trinity House lightvessel
1991
Lundy North Lighthouse becomes the first Trinity House lighthouse to be converted to solar powered operation
1993
The conversion of Trinity House buoys to solar power is completed
1998
Keepers are withdrawn from North Foreland Lighthouse, the last manned Trinity House lighthouse
2002
The Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) network provided by the General Lighthouse Authorities becomes operational
2006
THV Alert enters service, becoming Trinity House’s first Rapid Intervention Vessel
2007
THV Galatea is delivered, the most advanced vessel ever built by Trinity House
2008
Development of e-navigation concepts such as AIS, eLoran and DGPS begins
2011
New power systems reduce CO2 emissions.
HRH The Princess Royal elected Master
2014
Trinity House celebrates 500 years of service to the mariner