Home - Pakefield Coastwatch

Where are we?

We are located on the clifftop within the grounds of Pakefield holiday park, Pakefield, Suffolk. Viewable and accessible from the beautiful beach.

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What do we do?

Pakefield Coastwatch is a coastal surveillance station, directly responsible to HM Coastguard. Keeping a 364 days a year visible watch from approximately Lowestoft Harbour to the village of Kessingland, and as far out to sea as visibility allows.

Entirely run by volunteers

Pakefield Coastwatch is entirely volunteer-led, so donations are very important for us.

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Part of the Sea Safety Group

Our independent station is affiliated to the Sea Safety Group.

SSG Website

DFS

We hold Declared Facility Status, meaning we are recognised by the MCA & HMCG as contributing to saving lives at sea.

Volunteer

Join Pakefield Coastwatch

Volunteers are the reason we have remained operational for over 24 years. We are always happy to train new volunteers, no matter your age (18+) or experience, everybody is welcome.

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Did you
know?

Architect

London Architect Richard Suter, was commissioned to design the Pakefield light house. The Pakefield Lighthouse cost £821. 9s. 4d to complete and opened in 1832, in today’s money, that’s around £70,000.

Ghosts on the cliff

Mary was the wife of a fisherman who went to sea and never came back, her grief made her visit the cliffs every evening at 9 pm, she was locally referred to as Crazy Mary. She has been seen still checking the cliffs for her husband to this day.

Declared Facility Status

Our coastal surveillance station holds Declared Facility Status (DFS), meaning we are recognised by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency as contributing to the safety of life at sea.

Shifting Sands

By 1850, the seaway had moved so far south that the light was no longer effective and a new light was built three miles south at Kessingland. The Pakefield light was finally extinguished on 1st December 1864.

Recently Renovated

in 2000, the Pakefield Lighthouse was restored and updated with a suite of modern technology and to this day, has been maintained by volunteers at Pakefield Coastwatch.