Located at the mouth of the River Lea and the River Thames is the Michael Faraday lighthouse at Trinity Buoy Wharf. Built in 1864-66 it was constructed to test out various new types of lamps and lighthouse technology. Faraday’s only invention ever to be patented was a new type of chimney designed to stop lamp gases combusting which was used at the lighthouse. For over 200 years the Corporation of Trinity House of Deptford Strong used the wharf as a lightboat dock, buoy storage facility and maintenance depot. It was also used to test new lighthouse technologies and the maintenance of buoys and lightships from Suffolk to Kent. At one time the wharf employed over 150 people which included platers, riveters, carpenters, and tinsmiths. The wharf closed in 1988 and was taken over by Urban Space Management. Today the wharf is used as a centre for the arts and cultural activities which can also boast to have an office complex made up from recycled shipping containers, an old lightship LV95 which is used as a photography studio and an American type of diner.
Trinity Buoy Wharf is a member of the Lea Valley Heritage Alliance.
