Lighting the Way

Lighting the Way: Images of Lighthouses from the RIBA Collections

Of the many navigational aids lighthouses are perhaps the most symbolic and, frequently by virtue of the need to construct them in wild and rugged locations, some of the most challenging to build.

This article about five very different lighthouses from 1543 to 1960 is accompanied by the gallery below showing the wide range of images of lighthouses held in the RIBA Collections.

All of the images are available to download, purchase or license as well as other images here with a nautical theme.

Poster collection

102163 items

Berkeley Library, Trinity College, Dublin: students relaxing on the raked concrete benches by the east front entrance RIBA64332

RIBA64332Berkeley Library, Trinity College, Dublin: students relaxing on the raked concrete benches by the east front entrance

Berkeley Library, Trinity College, Dublin: the entrance hall RIBA64334

RIBA64334Berkeley Library, Trinity College, Dublin: the entrance hall

Plan of Nottingham Castle RIBA12953

RIBA12953Plan of Nottingham Castle

Plan of Nottingham Castle RIBA84028

RIBA84028Plan of Nottingham Castle

View of Nottingham Castle with gabled houses and a church at the bottom of the hill RIBA84030

RIBA84030View of Nottingham Castle with gabled houses and a church at the bottom of the hill

View of the north face of Nottingham Castle: elevation RIBA84031

RIBA84031View of the north face of Nottingham Castle: elevation

"Experiments in Living" exhibition, Maples store, London: "Expando-Space", an expanding adaptable space RIBA3116-39

RIBA3116-39"Experiments in Living" exhibition, Maples store, London: "Expando-Space", an expanding adaptable space

"Experiments in Living" exhibition, Maples store, London: multi-purpose foam block put to various uses RIBA28004

RIBA28004"Experiments in Living" exhibition, Maples store, London: multi-purpose foam block put to various uses

"Experiments in Living" exhibition, Maples store, London: over-bed cloud forms RIBA4684

RIBA4684"Experiments in Living" exhibition, Maples store, London: over-bed cloud forms

"Experiments in Living" exhibition, Maples store, London: sketch annotated "Type of building for Expandospace Exhibition" RIBA4682

RIBA4682"Experiments in Living" exhibition, Maples store, London: sketch annotated "Type of building for Expandospace Exhibition"

"Experiments in Living" exhibition, Maples store, London: sketch of room plan for Expandospace Exhibition RIBA4683

RIBA4683"Experiments in Living" exhibition, Maples store, London: sketch of room plan for Expandospace Exhibition

"Seco" prefabs RIBA59992

RIBA59992"Seco" prefabs

"Seco" temporary bungalow RIBA3455-59

RIBA3455-59"Seco" temporary bungalow

"Seco" temporary bungalows, McLeod Road, Woolwich, London RIBA59991

RIBA59991"Seco" temporary bungalows, McLeod Road, Woolwich, London

(Former) Bedford Park Stores, Bath Road, Bedford Park, Turnham Green, London RIBA42359

RIBA42359(Former) Bedford Park Stores, Bath Road, Bedford Park, Turnham Green, London

[C] Space - DRL 10 Pavilion, Bedford Square, Bloomsbury, London RIBA34719

RIBA34719[C] Space - DRL 10 Pavilion, Bedford Square, Bloomsbury, London

[C] Space - DRL 10 Pavilion, Bedford Square, Bloomsbury, London RIBA34720

RIBA34720[C] Space - DRL 10 Pavilion, Bedford Square, Bloomsbury, London

’Devil’s Elbow’, Skyline Drive, Prospect Ridge, Nassau, for Mr & Mrs A. R. McDonald RIBA105569

RIBA105569’Devil’s Elbow’, Skyline Drive, Prospect Ridge, Nassau, for Mr & Mrs A. R. McDonald

02 Arena (Millenium Dome), North Greenwich, London, at dawn RIBA135152

RIBA13515202 Arena (Millenium Dome), North Greenwich, London, at dawn

02 Arena (Millenium Dome), North Greenwich, London, just before dawn RIBA135151

RIBA13515102 Arena (Millenium Dome), North Greenwich, London, just before dawn

1 & 2 Laurence Pountney Hill, City of London RIBA60708

RIBA607081 & 2 Laurence Pountney Hill, City of London

1 & 2 Laurence Pountney Hill, City of London RIBA60709

RIBA607091 & 2 Laurence Pountney Hill, City of London

1 & 3 Wells Rise, St John's Wood, London RIBA80033

RIBA800331 & 3 Wells Rise, St John's Wood, London

1 and 2 Coach and Horses Yard, Savile Row, Westminster, London RIBA69252

RIBA692521 and 2 Coach and Horses Yard, Savile Row, Westminster, London

1 Bedford Square, Bloomsbury, London RIBA6035

RIBA60351 Bedford Square, Bloomsbury, London

1 Bedford Square, Bloomsbury, London: the entrance hall RIBA15656

RIBA156561 Bedford Square, Bloomsbury, London: the entrance hall

1 Boulevard Charles V, Nancy RIBA101983

RIBA1019831 Boulevard Charles V, Nancy

1 Bridge Street, The Cross, Chester, Cheshire RIBA27982

RIBA279821 Bridge Street, The Cross, Chester, Cheshire

1 Broad Street, Stamford RIBA52351

RIBA523511 Broad Street, Stamford

1 Chester Gate, Regent's Park, London: leather screen painted by Mary Adshead RIBA8380

RIBA83801 Chester Gate, Regent's Park, London: leather screen painted by Mary Adshead

1 Chester Gate, Regent's Park, London: papier-mache tray painted by Mary Adshead RIBA8377

RIBA83771 Chester Gate, Regent's Park, London: papier-mache tray painted by Mary Adshead

1 Chester Gate, Regent's Park, London: screen painted by Mary Adshead RIBA8379

RIBA83791 Chester Gate, Regent's Park, London: screen painted by Mary Adshead

1 Coleman Street, City of London RIBA70207

RIBA702071 Coleman Street, City of London