Hampton Lighthouse

The Hampton Lighthouse is valued for its age, construction, as an example of technological changes in the industry, and for its association with the community of Hampton.

The Hampton Lighthouse was built in 1911 by Joseph Marshall. It has a square floor plan, a square tapered tower, hipped roof and a centrally mounted lantern. The lantern was initially a kerosene lamp that had to be lit each night at sunset and extinguished at daybreak. The original 6th order dioptric lens remains in place. The lightkeeper lived in the village.

During the 1940’s electricity was added to the lighthouse, which soon ended the need for a full time lightkeeper. By 1960’s operation of the lighthouse was mostly automated and employees of the Department of Transportation made monthly maintenance visits to the lighthouse. In 1973 it was fully automated.

The Hampton Lighthouse is also valued as a local landmark, primarily for its service as the lighthouse. In 2001 ownership of the lighthouse passed from the Federal Government to the Hampton Lighthouse and Historical Society. It was the second lighthouse in Canada to be transfered from the Government of Canada for $1.00 under the 96-1 Directive and the first to be passed over to a non-profit community association.