Margate harbour, Kent

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

108601 items

Rolling Bridge, Paddington Basin, London: the bridge rolled up `RIBA105882

`RIBA105882Rolling Bridge, Paddington Basin, London: the bridge rolled up

Hillfield (House A), Whipsnade Zoo Estate, Whipsnade: the sun-catch RIBA2088

RIBA2088Hillfield (House A), Whipsnade Zoo Estate, Whipsnade: the sun-catch

Fagus factory, Alfeld an der Leine, Lower Saxony RIBA2093

RIBA2093Fagus factory, Alfeld an der Leine, Lower Saxony

Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, Hong Kong: first banking level reception area and atrium above RIBA2187

RIBA2187Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, Hong Kong: first banking level reception area and atrium above

Battersea 'A' Power Station, London, by night RIBA2478

RIBA2478Battersea 'A' Power Station, London, by night

Designs for six circular badges showing birds RIBA3066

RIBA3066Designs for six circular badges showing birds

Designs for six circular badges showing flowers RIBA3067

RIBA3067Designs for six circular badges showing flowers

Designs for six circular badges showing animals RIBA3068

RIBA3068Designs for six circular badges showing animals

Designs for six circular badges showing animals and flowers RIBA3069

RIBA3069Designs for six circular badges showing animals and flowers

Designs for six circular badges showing sea creatures and birds RIBA3070

RIBA3070Designs for six circular badges showing sea creatures and birds

Design for a beach house, California, for Rupert R. Ryan RIBA3085

RIBA3085Design for a beach house, California, for Rupert R. Ryan

Design for the river front of St Olaf House, Hay's Wharf, Tooley Street, Southwark, London RIBA3086

RIBA3086Design for the river front of St Olaf House, Hay's Wharf, Tooley Street, Southwark, London

Design for the Odeon cinema, Leicester Square, London RIBA3091

RIBA3091Design for the Odeon cinema, Leicester Square, London

Design for the interior of Fischer's Restaurant, New Bond Street, London RIBA3093

RIBA3093Design for the interior of Fischer's Restaurant, New Bond Street, London

Unexecuted design for Frinton Hotel, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex RIBA3316

RIBA3316Unexecuted design for Frinton Hotel, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex

Marine Court, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex RIBA3318

RIBA3318Marine Court, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex

Ronan Point, Clever Road, West Ham, London, after building collapse RIBA3716

RIBA3716Ronan Point, Clever Road, West Ham, London, after building collapse

Central Market Building, Covent Garden, London RIBA3717

RIBA3717Central Market Building, Covent Garden, London

Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema RIBA3718

RIBA3718Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema

John Ruskin RIBA3719

RIBA3719John Ruskin

Frank Lloyd Wright RIBA3720

RIBA3720Frank Lloyd Wright

Owen Jones RIBA3721

RIBA3721Owen Jones

Christ Church, Spitalfields, London, seen from Brushfield Street RIBA3722

RIBA3722Christ Church, Spitalfields, London, seen from Brushfield Street

St Stephen Walbrook, City of London RIBA3723

RIBA3723St Stephen Walbrook, City of London

Castle Ashby, Northamptonshire: the south (entrance) front RIBA3724

RIBA3724Castle Ashby, Northamptonshire: the south (entrance) front

St Stephen Walbrook, City of London: distant view of the steeple RIBA3725

RIBA3725St Stephen Walbrook, City of London: distant view of the steeple

Royal Institute of British Architects, 66 Portland Place, London: the library RIBA3726

RIBA3726Royal Institute of British Architects, 66 Portland Place, London: the library

Plan of Nottingham Castle RIBA12953

RIBA12953Plan of Nottingham Castle

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 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