Since 1635, fog whistles and bells were used to warn ships, but in 1860 a fog trumpet was installed next to the 1792 lighthouse, and this was operated by a steam engine.
Shingle continued to build up so that by the late 1880’s the light was a long way from the sea. A smaller Low Light was placed nearer the shore. This bright, revolving light flashed every 5 seconds and could be seen for 10 miles. A siren foghorn was housed here too.

Still the shingle collected. A new lighthouse was built in 1904, 150 feet high with 169 steps. Using paraffin oil, this flashing light could be seen 18 miles. 670 glass prisms gave a magnification of 164,000 candle power, but the mechanism for turning the light was still hand wound.

Below the main light a red light showed that could only be seen in East Bay; red and green lights were visible in West Bay.

In 1932 the Low Light and fog signal were replaced by a white cylindrical tower, producing a flashing light using acetylene gas and the foghorn sounded 3 blasts every 2 minutes. This was pulled down in 1959 when the new Dungeness lighthouse was planned.

In 1959 electricity was again in use, successfully this time, but in 1961 it was decided to build a fully automated lighthouse, 130 feet ta11, and 12 feet in diameter.

Four banks of 4 x 200 watt Aga sealed beam lamps – (1920,000 candle power) gave a range of 24 miles. The inbuilt foghorn with automatic fog detector, sounds three times every 30 seconds, and there are sti1l red and green lights.

Today the new, slim lighthouse stands close by the Old Lighthouse; it is possible to climb to the top of the old one (now privately owned) from whence an excellent impression of Dungeness is obtained. The white Round house nearby, is the base of the old 1792 lighthouse.