For 200 years, Berwick Lighthouse has stood at the mouth of the River Tweed, guiding ships into the harbour and becoming an iconic part of the town’s landscape. This October, we brought its remarkable story to life through Lighthouse 200 – a celebration of the people, creativity and maritime heritage that make Berwick so special.

Across the programme, residents and visitors came together to discover the lighthouse in a new light, with art, music, storytelling and a very special cake helping mark this historic milestone.

A slice of Berwick history

One of the highlights was the return of a rather unusual piece of local history: the Lighthouse cake.

Back in 1908, local baker JJ Simmen created a 400lb fruit cake shaped like Berwick Lighthouse. More than a century later, local baker Jim Ford of Ford’s Bakers revived the tradition with a celebratory cake shared with the community at Berwick Market.

The response was extraordinary, with 350 slices handed out in just 15 minutes and more than 600 slices shared across the weekend.

The celebration also brought together descendants of two people connected to the original story. Robina and Yvonne, the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of Robina Burgon, Berwick’s first female lighthouse keeper, joined the festivities to cut the cake. The granddaughter of JJ Simmen, the original baker behind the historic Lighthouse cake, was also there.

These personal connections brought an extra dimension to the celebrations, linking the lighthouse’s past with the people who continue to keep its stories alive today.

Bringing the lighthouse to life through sound and light

As darkness fell, the lighthouse became the centrepiece of In The Lighthouse, a striking sound and light installation by North East artist Ed Carter.

Combining atmospheric lighting with excerpts from Robina Burgon’s diary, the installation offered a glimpse into the experience of working in the lighthouse. Robina took on the role of lighthouse keeper in 1927 and again in 1929, when her father Alexander Burgon fell ill.

Her words gave audiences a personal insight into life behind this familiar landmark, connecting the history of the lighthouse with the people who helped keep Berwick’s harbour safe.

The installation drew crowds to the waterfront, with people travelling to Berwick specifically to experience it. Visitors described the work as evocative and emotional, while photographs and drone footage of the illuminated lighthouse quickly appeared across social media.

For many, it was a chance to see a much-loved part of the town in an entirely new way.

Remembering the Audela: Bringing Berwick’s maritime history to life

The lighthouse’s story is inseparable from the ships that were built, launched and sailed from Berwick’s harbour. For Lighthouse 200, artist Claire Eason of Soul2Sand brought one particularly significant vessel back into the spotlight: the Audela, the last ship to be built in Berwick.

The Audela also holds a special place in the town’s maritime history as the last cruise boat to leave Berwick for the Caribbean while the lighthouse was still in operation. Her story captures a time when the harbour was a gateway to journeys across the sea, with the lighthouse standing watch over the ships and the people who passed through it.

Using drone technology to create a spectacular light drawing in the sky beside the lighthouse, Claire recreated the Audela as part of the anniversary celebrations. The installation offered a striking way to revisit Berwick’s shipbuilding heritage, celebrating the vessels, journeys and human stories that have shaped the town’s relationship with the sea.

By bringing the Audela back into view through contemporary art, the installation connected Berwick’s maritime past with its present-day landscape, inviting audiences to look beyond the familiar lighthouse and discover the wider stories held within its history.

Sand art shaped by the sea

At Spittal Point Beach, artist Claire Eason of Soul2Sand created a large-scale Lighthouse 200 emblem in the sand, celebrating 200 years of the lighthouse and its enduring connection to the coastline.

The temporary artwork was designed to be experienced in its natural setting, with the incoming tide eventually washing it away. Visitors were also invited to get involved, creating their own star constellations in the sand and becoming part of the creative celebration.

The activity offered a hands-on way for people to connect with the landscape, explore their own creativity and reflect on the relationship between Berwick, the sea and the lighthouse.

Music celebrating Berwick’s heritage

Music brought the celebrations to a close, with Berwick Ensembles presenting a specially commissioned piece at the Lowry Pavilion, with the lighthouse providing a fitting backdrop.

Featuring local musicians and young performers, the concert celebrated Berwick’s musical talent alongside its rich maritime heritage, bringing another community-led element to the Lighthouse 200 programme.

A celebration of people, stories and place

For Ros Lamont, CEO of The Maltings, the response demonstrated just how deeply the lighthouse is connected to the town.

Lighthouse 200 also coincided with the 150th anniversary of Berwick Port, connecting the lighthouse’s story to the people, ships and industries that have shaped the town’s relationship with the sea.

Commissioned by Northumberland County Council, with funding from North East Mayoral Strategic Authority and support from Berwick-upon-Tweed Harbour Commission, the programme demonstrated the power of creativity to bring local heritage to life and create shared experiences for the community.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, supported the programme and helped celebrate 200 years of this iconic landmark. From sharing cake to discovering the stories behind the lighthouse, it was a wonderful reminder of the history, creativity and community that make Berwick unique.