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The Aldeburgh Beach Lookout is a historic landmark on the Aldeburgh sea front, in Suffolk, England. Grade II listed,[1] it was built around 1830 as a lookout tower to assist or plunder shipping along the hazardous North Sea coast. It now houses an artistic space,[2] hosting exhibitions by British artists including Sir Antony Gormley RA.
| Aldeburgh Beach Lookout | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Coastal lookout |
| Location | Aldeburgh, Suffolk |
| Coordinates | 52°09′02″N 1°36′07″E / 52.150563°N 1.602063°E |
| Built | c. 1830 |
| Current use | Art venue |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Designated | August 1974[1] |
| Reference no. | 1269772 |
  Location of Aldeburgh Beach Lookout in the United Kingdom | |
History edit
In the 19th century, observation towers were constructed along the United Kingdom's coastline to help ships navigate treacherous waters and sail safely on.[2] Lookouts, as they were called, were typically commercial operations in the business of rescuing or salvaging vessels. The Aldeburgh Beach Lookout is the southern of two lookouts on Aldeburgh beach; its rival,[3] the North Lookout, stands approximately 100 yards north and now forms part of the Aldeburgh Lifeboat Station.
The South Lookout, now known as the Aldeburgh Beach Lookout, became a coastguard post before falling into disuse in the mid-20th century. South African writer and Aldeburgh resident Sir Laurens van der Post wrote inside the lookout for over 30 years, from the mid-1950s onwards.[2]
Current use edit
In 2010, the Aldeburgh Beach Lookout was co-founded by Francis Carnwath and Caroline Wiseman to provide an artistic space for the public to view modern art.[2] Since then, the Lookout has hosted exhibitions by many international artists including Royal Academicians Antony Gormley, Alison Wilding, Nigel Hall, Chris Orr, and Eileen Cooper.[2] Poets who have written in the Lookout include Blake Morrison and Ian McMillan. The Lookout has hosted philosophers and thinkers including A. C. Grayling and Andrew Marr.
References edit
- ^ a b "The South Lookout, Aldeburgh". HistoricEngland.org.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "The house and tower on the Suffolk coast that's a peaceful artists' residence". The Guardian. 24 June 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ "Aldeburgh, Suffolk, including Aldeburgh Beach, Lifeboat and Town Centre". www.tournorfolk.co.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2020.