course of approach; vessels would keep to this course until the colour of the Landguard light was seen to change from red to white, whereupon the vessel would take a northerly course into Harwich Haven. When first built the Dovercourt lights used oil lamps and reflectors, and both displayed a fixed (i.e. steady) light. In 1878 the High Light was improved with the installation of a prismatic lens assembly, and in the early 1900s it was given a flashing characteristic following the introduction of gas, in place of oil, as the illuminant for both lights. In 1917 Harwich Harbour Board took over responsibility for navigation marks in the vicinity and chose to mark the deep-water channel with a series of lighted buoys, rendering the lighthouses redundant. The lights were discontinued, but the structures left in situ. In 1975 both lighthouses were designated as a scheduled monument, together with the stone causeway which runs between them. They were restored in the 1980s; however, following a detailed survey they were placed on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register in 2019. Gallery See also John Bagshaw - developer of Dovercourt. MP for Harwich. Robert John Bagshaw - son of the above. MP for Harwich Hanna Bergas Charles Fryatt - GER captain, captured and shot in 1916 Roy Salvadori - winner of 1959 Le Mans 24 hours and Formula One driver Constance Lindsay Taylor, author, playwright and screenwriter References Populated coastal places in Essex Towns in Essex Beaches of Essex Seaside resorts in Essex Former civil parishes in Essex Tendring