A coastal landmark could soon become a familiar sight on the top right-hand corner of your post.
As summer draws to a close, a view that will have been seen by thousands of holiday-makers over the past few months, that of Southwold Lighthouse, is one of six coastal constructions that has been selected by the Royal Mail as part of a new stamp collection entitled ‘Seaside Architecture’. The stamps have been produced as Trinity House celebrate its 500th anniversary.
The first lighthouse built by Trinity House was a pair of wooden towers lit by candles at Lowestoft in 1609. Construction of Southwold Lighthouse began in 1887 to replace three local lighthouses which were under threat from erosion at Orfordness. Since 1889, the lighthouse has protected shipping negotiating the ever-shifting sand banks in the Sole Bay and the entrance to Southwold harbour, standing firm over the town.
The five other places to be selected in the set are Eastbourne Bandstand, the Tinside Lido in Plymouth, Bangor Pier, the Casino at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, and a 21st Century shelter at Bexhill-on-Sea.
The collection, which will not be issued until Thursday, is priced £5.74 including VAT and can be purchased from shop.royalmail.com
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