WORK on a major facelift for one of Harwich’s most iconic landmarks began 40 years ago.

Scaffolding was put up at the High Lighthouse in April 1975.

Costing about £6,700, the works included cleaning the brickwork, repairing the stonework and repairing the windows.

The work was carried out by Tendring Council after a suggestion by the Colchester and district chapter of the Royal Institute of British Architects that the lighthouse should be included in the European Architectural Heritage Year.

A report in the Standard in 1975 said: “The historic buildings policy section of the Department of the Environment is to make a grant of half the total cost, and it is hoped to follow up the restoration work by planting flowers and shrubs and generally improving the area.”

Built in 1808, the High and Low Lighthouses replaced earlier wooden structures, that dated back to the 17th century and featured in a John Constable painting.

The lighthouses worked together as a pair, with sailors knowing they were on the right course when both lamps from these lighthouses matched up to be one above the other.

The two lighthouses became redundant in 1863, but the High Lighthouse went on to be used as a council house and a radio and television museum before being taken over the Harwich Society last year.