On that day we scooped La Canche, Alprech, Dunkerque lights and Gravelines (all featured in this blog). We'd already scored Calais on the way into France. But we overlooked Berck, or at least we mistook where it actually was, so left it untroubled by our presence. Mrs Melling and self set out to put this to rights when en route to Sablet in the summer of 2014; just for the record as it were: Berck is not a show stopper in the phare listings. But it is a proper lighthouse, nevertheless, so must be suitably observed and added to one's lists of lovely lights graced by JBH's attentions, a reproduction of which is shown herewith. Pointe du Haut-Banc (home of Berck, at Berck-Plage) is a few miles south of Boulogne and Cap d'Alprech. It was the first French phare to be constructed of pre-stressed concrete and has been awarded Monument Historique status because of it.
I have referred to The Lighthouse Directory to bring you these additional facts:
The station was established in 1836; was inactive 1940-1951 -- guess why… The current structure gives a white flash every five seconds. It is 45 metres (147ft) tall. The original lighthouse rose through the center of a keeper's house; when a larger building nearby obstructed its light, a 25 metre (82ft) tower was added at the end of the building. These towers were destroyed by retreating German forces in August 1944. and Huelse has a postcard view showing both of those first two lighthouses.
illustrations by Jean Benoît Héron, photo by me
