Trinity Bouy Lighthouse.

In 1803, the site at Trinity Buoy Wharf came under the management of the Elder Brethren of Trinity House, now known as the Corporation of Trinity House. It became a maintenance depot and storage space for the many buoys that guided ships along the Thames. The seawall was reconstructed in 1822 by George Mundy of Old Ford, and the site was also used for docking and repairing lightships.

The first lighthouse on the site was built in 1852 by Trinity House engineer James Walker, but it was demolished in the late 1920s. A second lighthouse, which still stands today, was constructed between 1864 and 1866 by James Douglass. The lantern at the top came from the Paris Exposition of 1867, where Trinity House had showcased Professor Holmes’s advanced electric lighting system for lighthouses. Initially, the tower was used for experiments, including tests by famed scientist Michael Faraday. It later became a training facility for lighthouse keepers and was used to test new lighting systems for Trinity House’s network of lighthouses across England and Wales.

In 1988, Trinity House closed the wharf, and the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) took over the area. A decade later, in 1998, the LDDC established the Trinity Buoy Wharf Trust with a 125-year lease to manage the land for the people of London. Urban Space Holdings Ltd took over the site’s long lease and transformed it into a hub for arts and cultural activities. The development included studio spaces, unique architecture made from repurposed shipping containers, and exhibition spaces.

Today, Trinity Buoy Wharf continues to grow as a creative space, attracting artists and cultural events while preserving its rich maritime heritage.

Trinity House Charity

Trinity House is a charity committed to safeguarding shipping and supporting seafarers. Established in 1514 by Royal Charter, it was initially tasked with regulating pilotage on the River Thames and caring for elderly mariners. Today, it serves a much broader role as the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) for England, Wales, the Channel Islands, and Gibraltar. Its mission is to provide reliable, efficient, and cost-effective navigation aids to ensure the safety of mariners.

In addition to maintaining over 11,000 local aids to navigation and licensing Deep Sea Pilots, Trinity House also offers Elder Brethren as Nautical Assessors to the Admiralty Court. The charity donates around £4 million annually to support maritime initiatives, including cadet training schemes, welfare programs for retired mariners, and safety education.

Trinity House collaborates with various national and international organizations like the Northern Lighthouse Board, Irish Lights, and the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, all aimed at enhancing maritime safety. Through its work, it ensures that well-trained professionals crew British commercial ships and seafarers in need receive vital support.