Editing Trinity House

{{short description|Official authority for lighthouses in England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2017}}

{{Other uses}}

{{Infobox organization
| name                     = Trinity House
| full_name                = The Corporation of Trinity House <br>of Deptford Strond
| logo                     = Trinity House logo.png
| logo_size                = 150
| image                    = Eastern City of London trinity 08.03.2013 15-56-05.jpg
| caption                  = Trinity House headquarters at [[Tower Hill]], [[City of London|London]], built in 1796.
| formation                = {{start date and age|1514|05|20|df=y}}
| founding_location        = [[Deptford]], [[History of Kent|Kent]], England
| status                   = [[Royal Charter]] Corporation and registered charity
| purpose                  = Maintenance of lighthouses, buoys and beacons
| headquarters             = Trinity House, [[Tower Hill]], [[London]], England
| region                   = {{hlist|[[England]]|[[Wales]]|[[Channel Islands]]|[[Gibraltar]]}}
| coordinates= {{Coord|51.51|-0.077|type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline, title}}
| membership               = {{unbulleted list|31 Elder Brethren|c.400 Younger Brethren}}
| leader_title             = Master
| leader_name              = [[Anne, Princess Royal|The Princess Royal]]
| leader_title2            = Deputy Master
| leader_name2             = [[Iain Lower|Rear-Admiral Iain Lower]]<ref name="Lower1">{{cite web |url=https://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/news/rear-admiral-iain-lower-becomes-deputy-master-and-chief-executive-of-trinity-house |title=Rear-Admiral Iain Lower becomes Deputy Master and Chief Executive of Trinity House |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=13 February 2024 |publisher=Trinity House |access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref>
| revenue                  = £37,907,000 (2022)<ref name="2022 accounts">{{Cite web|date=2022|title=Trinity House Report and Accounts 2021-22|url=https://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/asset/4897/download?1674470631|access-date=2023-07-03|website=Trinity House|language=en-GB}}</ref>
| expenses                 = £44,208,000 (2022)<ref name="2022 accounts" />
| staff                    = 283 (2022)<ref name="2022 accounts" />
| website                  = [https://www.trinityhouse.co.uk trinityhouse.co.uk]
}}
[[File:TrinityHouseLondon.JPG|thumb|right|Trinity House, London (2007)]]
[[File:Microcosm of London Plate 088 - Trinity House edited.jpg|thumb|right|A meeting at Trinity House {{circa|1808}}]]

The '''Corporation of Trinity House of Deptford Strond''',<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/legal/| title=Legal Notices| publisher=Trinity House| access-date=28 April 2015| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091216133728/http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/legal/| archive-date=16 December 2009| df=dmy-all}}</ref> also known as '''Trinity House''' (and formally as '''The Master, Wardens and Assistants of the Guild Fraternity or Brotherhood of the most glorious and undivided Trinity and of St Clement in the Parish of Deptford Strond in the County of Kent'''), is the official authority for [[lighthouse]]s in [[England]], [[Wales]], the [[Channel Islands]] and [[Gibraltar]]. Trinity House is also responsible for the provision and maintenance of other navigational aids, such as [[lightvessel]]s, [[buoy]]s, and maritime radio/satellite communication systems. It is also an official [[deep sea]] [[Maritime pilot|pilotage]] [[authority]], providing expert navigators for ships trading in [[Northern Europe]]an [[North Sea|waters]].

Trinity House is also a [[Maritime transport|maritime]] [[Charity (practice)|charity]], disbursing funds for the welfare of retired seamen, the training of young cadets and the promotion of safety at sea. For the financial year ending in March 2013, it spent approximately £6.5{{nbsp}}million in furtherance of its charitable objectives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/th/about/charities_we_support.html|title=Charities we Support|publisher=Trinity House|access-date=28 April 2015}}</ref>

Funding for the work of the lighthouse service comes from "[[light dues]]" levied on commercial vessels calling at [[port]]s in the [[British Isles]], based on their [[Net register tonnage|net registered tonnage]]. The rate is set by the [[Department for Transport]], and reviewed annually.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/th/about/funding.html| title=Trinity House Funding| access-date=28 April 2015}}</ref> Funding for the maritime charity is generated separately.

The Corporation was founded in 1514, its first Master being [[Sir Thomas Spert]], [[Master (naval)|sailing master]] of [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII's]] [[flagship]] ''[[Mary Rose]]'' and of ''[[Henry Grace à Dieu]].''

==History==
The corporation came into being in 1514 by [[Royal Charter]] granted by [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] under the name "The Master, Wardens, and Assistants of the Guild, Fraternity, or Brotherhood of [[Holy trinity|the most glorious and undivided Trinity]], and of [[Pope Clement I|St Clement]] in the [[Deptford St Nicholas|Parish of Deptford]] [[Coast|Strond]] in the County of Kent."<ref>{{cite web
  | title = Current Royal Charters 1685–1978
  | publisher = Trinity House
  |date=February 2009
  | url = http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/7768/response/18726/attach/2/CURRENT%20ROYAL%20CHARTERS%201685-1978.PDF.pdf
  | access-date =2009-07-12 }}</ref> 
The charter came as a result of a petition put forward on 19 March 1513 by a [[guild]] of [[Deptford]]-based [[mariner]]s. They were troubled by the poor conduct of unregulated pilots on the [[River Thames|Thames]] and asked the king for licence to regulate pilotage. [[Sir Thomas Spert]], Vice-Admiral of [[Henry VIII|Henry]]'s flagship ''[[Mary Rose]]'' and the ''[[Henry Grace à Dieu]]'' was elected the first master; the corporation's name derives from the [[Trinity|Holy Trinity]] and [[Clement of Rome|St. Clement]], the patron saint of mariners.

As John Whormby, [[Clerk]] to the Corporation, wrote in 1746, their general business was:<ref>Whormby, John (1746). An Account of the Corporation of Trinity House of Deptford Strond and of Sea Marks in General 1746-1861. Smith & Ebbs, 1761, reprint 1861. pp. 1–2.</ref>

{{Blockquote|to improve the art and science of mariners; to examine into the qualifications, and regulate the conduct of those who take upon them the charge of conducting ships; to preserve good order, and (when desired) to compose differences in marine affairs, and, in general, to consult the conservation, good estate, wholesome government, maintenance and increase of navigation and sea-faring men; and to relieve decayed seamen and their relatives.}}

{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Sea Marks Act 1566
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of England
| long_title            = An Act concerning Sea-marks and Mariners.
| year                  = 1566
| citation              = [[8 Eliz. 1]]. c. 13
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 2 January 1567
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 1864
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = [[Merchant Shipping Repeal Act 1854]]
| repealing_legislation = [[Thames Conservancy Act 1864]] 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = Repealed 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = 
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
[[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I's]] '''{{visible anchor|Sea Marks Act 1566}}''' ([[8 Eliz. 1]]. c. 13) enabled Trinity House:

{{Blockquote|at their wills and pleasures, and at their costs, [to] make, erect, and set up such, and so many beacons, marks, and signs for the sea… whereby the dangers may be avoided and escaped, and ships the better come into their ports without peril.}}

[[File:Lightship 'John Sebastien' - geograph.org.uk - 639316.jpg|thumb|The ''John Sebastian'', Trinity House [[Lightvessel|L.V.]] No 55 (1886 built as a batch order of three, LV54, LV55 and LV59) in [[Bathurst Basin]], Somerset]]

With the increasing number of ships lost along the [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] to [[London]] coal route, Trinity House established the [[Lowestoft Lighthouse]] in 1609, a pair of wooden towers with candle illuminants. Until the late 18th century, candle, coal, or wood fires were used as lighthouse illuminants, improved in 1782 with the circular-wick oil-burning [[Argand lamp]], the first ‘catoptric’ mirrored reflector in 1777, and [[Fresnel]]’s ‘dioptric’ lens system in 1823. [[Nore|The Nore]] [[Lightvessel|lightship]] was established as the world's first floating light in 1732.

Trinity House took over the management of all public buoys in the [[Kingdom of England|kingdom]] in 1594 from the [[Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom|Lord High Admiral]]. A royal warrant, dated 11 June 1594, granted the corporation the right of:

{{blockquote|... making, erecting, setting up, placing or laying out, all buoys, beacons, marks and signs, for the sea or seashore, to hold the same with all profits and emoluments thereunto belonging, as of the manor of East Greenwich, in free and common soccage.<ref>''The National Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge, Vol.III'', London (1847), Charles, Knight, pp.933-34</ref>}}
By 1847, revenue collected from this source was £11,000 to £12,000 per year.<ref>''The National Cyclopaedia'' ... P.934</ref>

In 1836, Trinity House accepted powers in the [[Lighthouses Act 1836]] ([[6 & 7 Will. 4]]. c. 79) to levy out the last private lighthouse owners and began refurbishing and upgrading its lighthouse estate.

In 1803, the corporation established the Blackwall Depot as a buoy workshop, and six district depots were later established at Harwich, Great Yarmouth, East Cowes, Penzance, Holyhead and Swansea. In December 2002, Trinity House announced that the Great Yarmouth, Penzance and East Cowes depots would close. Today, Trinity House's operational headquarters are based at [[Harwich]], supported by depots in [[Swansea]] and a flight operations base at [[St Just in Penwith|St Just]] in [[Cornwall]]. Its operations are also supported by three vessels; the two large tenders THV ''Patricia'' and THV ''Galatea'', and the Rapid Intervention Vessel THV ''Alert''. It retains a small secretariat based at [[Tower Hill]].

During the First World War, the corporation served a number of functions: it buoyed shipping lanes and naval operations, moved lightvessels, and laid hundreds of buoys. During the Second World War, Trinity House kept sea lanes marked and lighted for [[List of Allied convoys during World War II by region|Allied convoy]]s. The Pilotage Service guided ships to their ports under hazardous conditions; at the time of the [[Dunkirk evacuation]], a number of pilots helped in piloting vessels to and from the beaches.

On the night of 29 December 1940, Trinity House was destroyed by the most severe of the [[Strategic bombing|air attacks]] on London; the interiors were completely gutted and many archives and treasures were lost. (The restored [[Townhouse (Great Britain)|building]] was reopened by [[Elizabeth II]] on 21 October 1953.)

In preparation for the [[D-Day]] [[Normandy landings|landings]] on 6 June 1944, Trinity House laid 73 lighted buoys and two lightvessels to indicate a safe route for landing craft. Trinity House pilots were responsible for all commercial vessels involved and many of the service vessels. In the month following D-Day, nearly 3,000 vessels were handled by 88 river pilots and nearly 2,000 ships by 115 sea pilots working day and night.

In 1969, Trinity House initiated the debut of helicopter reliefs to and from offshore lighthouses, succeeding the boat reliefs. These had been susceptible to being delayed by months during inclement weather. Trinity House played a major part in the design of the IALA Maritime Buoyage System, laying the first buoy off [[Dover]], watched over by representatives of 16 nations on 15 April 1977.

By the 1960s, Trinity House licensed about 500 pilots, of whom about 350 were in the London District, handling an estimated 60% of the nation's piloted tonnage. The [[Pilotage Act 1987]] authorized Trinity House to pass its District Pilotage responsibilities to various [[Competent harbour authority|local harbour authorities]], becoming instead a licensing authority for deep sea pilotage.

The completion of the lighthouse automation programme came with a ceremony held at the [[North Foreland#Lighthouse|North Foreland Lighthouse]] on 26 November 1998, attended by the last six keepers and master, [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]]. On 9 June 1989, the last crewed lightvessel was towed from the Channel lightvessel station to Harwich.

[[Richard Woodman]] served as elder brethren and member of the court from 2000 until his death in 2024.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite web | last=Jones | first=Julia | title=Richard Woodman obituary | website=the Guardian | date=2024-10-24 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/oct/24/richard-woodman-obituary | access-date=2025-02-22}}</ref> In 2011, the Princess Royal succeeded [[Prince Philip|her father]] as Master.<ref name="e884">{{cite web | last=Murray | first=Ben | title=The Princess Royal | website=Maritime UK | date=1950-08-15 | url=https://www.maritimeuk.org/about/our-people/princess-royal/ | access-date=2025-02-22}}</ref> She was aboard ''Trinity House Motor Boat No.1'' during the [[Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Diamond Jubilee]] [[Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant|pageant]].

In 2014, the [[Royal Mint]] issued a [[Two pounds (British coin)|two pound coin]] commemorating the 500th anniversary of the grant of Trinity House's royal charter.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Royal Mint announces coins for 2014|url=http://www.royalmint.com/aboutus/news/2014-coins-revealed|access-date=13 May 2015|publisher=Royal Mint|date=6 January 2014}}</ref>

From 2011 to 2024, [[Ian McNaught|Captain Ian McNaught]], a Merchant Navy Officer served as Deputy Master.<ref name="Lower1"/> In 2024, he was succeeded as Deputy Master and Chief Executive by [[Iain Lower|Rear-Admiral Iain Lower]].<ref name="Lower1"/>

==Master of the Corporation==
[[File:President_Roosevelt_and_Winston_Churchill_seated_on_the_quarterdeck_of_HMS_PRINCE_OF_WALES_for_a_Sunday_service_during_the_Atlantic_Conference,_10_August_1941._A4815.jpg| thumb|right|[[Winston Churchill|Churchill]] in his Trinity House uniform at the [[Atlantic Charter|Atlantic Conference]]]]
The Master of the Corporation (now an [[honorary title]]) is [[Anne, Princess Royal]]. Previous Masters of Trinity House include [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]]; [[Vice-Admiral of England|Vice-Admiral]] [[Sir Thomas Spert]], master of the warship ''[[Henry Grace à Dieu]]'' under [[Henry VIII]]; the diarist [[Samuel Pepys]]; [[William Pitt the Younger]]; [[Field Marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]] [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|the Duke of Wellington]]; and [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] [[William Penn (Royal Navy officer)|Sir William Penn]] (father of [[William Penn]], founder of [[Pennsylvania]]).

Other prominent individuals in Britain, often connected with commercial shipping or [[the Admiralty]], have been associated with Trinity House, including [[Winston Churchill]]. He gained his status as an Elder Brother of Trinity House as a result of his position as [[First Lord of the Admiralty]] before and during the [[First World War]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trinityhousehistory.wordpress.com/tag/churchill/|title=Churchill {{!}} Trinity House History|website=trinityhousehistory.wordpress.com|date=22 January 2014 |language=en|access-date=2017-11-04}}</ref>  Often, especially on naval-related forays during the [[Second World War]], Churchill was seen wearing the Trinity House cap or uniform. Churchill also had a Trinity House vessel (THV) named after him, THV ''Winston Churchill''.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=975740| title=THV ''Winston Churchill''| publisher=Ship Spotting| access-date=28 April 2015}}</ref>

==Governance==
[[File:Thv wiki lic.jpg|thumb|Elder Brethren during [[Trafalgar 200]]]]

Trinity House is ruled by a [[Court of Assistants|court]] of thirty-one Elder Brethren, presided over by its Master. These are appointed from 300 Younger Brethren who act as advisors and perform other duties as needed. The Younger Brethren are appointed from lay people with maritime experience, mainly [[naval officer]]s and [[Captain (nautical)|ships' master]]s, but also [[harbourmaster]]s, [[Harbour pilot|pilot]]s, [[yacht]]smen, and anyone with useful experience.<ref>{{cite web
  | title = Quarterdeck
  | publisher = McBooks Press
  | date = March 2007
  | url = http://www.mcbooks.com/pdf/Quarterdeck-03-07.pdf
  | pages = 8–9
  | access-date = 2007-08-06
  | archive-date = 19 August 2007
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070819195245/http://www.mcbooks.com/pdf/Quarterdeck-03-07.pdf
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref>

==Headquarters of the Corporation==
The [[headquarters]] of the Corporation are the present Trinity House, which was designed by architect [[Samuel Wyatt]] and built in 1796. It has a suite of five state rooms with views over Trinity Square, the [[Tower of London]] and the [[River Thames]].

==Trinity High Water==
[[File:JosephHuddartZh.jpeg|thumb|[[Joseph Huddart|Capt. Joseph Huddart]] {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100|FRS}}, Elder Brother, set the Trinity House stones]]
'''Trinity High Water''' (or '''High Water, Trinity Standard'''), abbreviated '''T.H.W.''', was a [[vertical datum]] used for legal purposes in the River Thames and informally over a much wider area.  Though not thus defined, it was about {{convert|12|ft|6|in}} above mean [[sea level]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Redman|first=John Baldry|year=1877|title=The River Thames|journal=Minutes of the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers|volume=XLIX|pages=88–9|doi=10.1680/imotp.1877.22501|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=pst.000052356438&view=1up&seq=100|access-date=15 January 2020}}, p=88.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/benchmarks/|title=Ordnance Survey Benchmark locator|access-date=2021-12-21}}</ref>

The concept had its origin in the [[List of acts of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1800|London Dock Act 1800]] ([[39 & 40 Geo. 3]]. c. xlvii)<ref>The short title of "An Act for Making Wet Docks, Basons, Cuts, and other Works, for the greater Accommodations and Security, Commerce, and Revenue, within the Port of London" ([[39 & 40 Geo. 3]]. c. xlvii) (20 June 1800).</ref> which authorised the making of the [[Wapping|Wapping basin]] of the [[London Docks]] and specified its minimum depth ''ie.'' over the [[sill (dock)|sill]].  At that time there was no [[Ordnance Datum]] or other accepted vertical benchmark.  Therefore, the 1800 Act defined the benchmark for this dock as "the level of the river at low-water mark".  Since opinions about this might vary, it added: 

{{Blockquote|The same shall be settled and determined by two of the Elder Brothers of the Trinity House, within three calendar months next after the passing of this Act, who shall certify the same in  writing  under their hands and seals.}}

Accordingly, Trinity House — in the person of [[Captain (naval)|Captain]] [[Joseph Huddart]]<ref name="Hall1943">{{cite journal|last=Hall|first=William Bertam|year=1943|title=The Origin and History of Trinity High Water|journal=Journal of the Institution of Civil Engineers|volume=21|issue=1|pages=30–34|doi=10.1680/ijoti.1943.13961|url=https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/pdf/10.1680/ijoti.1943.13961|access-date=16 January 2021}}</ref> — set a stone in the external wing wall of the [[London Docks#Physical description|Hermitage Entrance]] to the [[London Docks]].<ref>More precisely (for the London Dock did not yet exist), in an existing wall later incorporated into the dock.</ref> It was inscribed {{blockquote|Low water mark is 17 feet 10 inches below the lower edge of this stone, settled by the Corporation of Trinity House Aug{{sup|t}}. MDCCC}} Similar stones were afterwards set for Wapping and Shadwell entrances.

This established a benchmark which was supposedly extended for further purposes ''eg.'' the sill heights of other docks and for high water also.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Redman|first=John Baldry|year=1877|title=The River Thames|journal=Minutes of the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers|volume=XLIX|pages=88–9|doi=10.1680/imotp.1877.22501|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=pst.000052356438&view=1up&seq=100|access-date=15 January 2020}}</ref>

Trinity High Water Mark was much used as a datum in [[London]] for legal purposes.  It was required to be marked on all drawings of property adjacent to the river when submitted to the [[Thames Conservancy]].  As another example, the minimum height of river walls were specified in feet and inches above T.H.W.<ref>{{cite book|last=Adams|first=Henry|year=1913|title=Practical Surveying and Elementary Geodesy|publisher=Macmillan|location=London|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc2.ark:/13960/t16m34740&view=1up&seq=150|access-date=15 January 2021}}, p.134</ref>  The benchmark was used in other contexts, such as "Luton is 400 feet above Trinity high-water";<ref>{{cite book|last=Prestwich|first=Joseph|title=A geological inquiry respecting the water-bearing strata of the country around London, with reference especially to the water-supply of the metropolis|publisher=Oxford|year=1851|page=141}}</ref> the elevations of water reservoirs;<ref>{{cite book|last=Cresy|first=Edward|title=An Encyclopædia of Civil Engineering: Historical, Theoretical, and Practical |volume=I|publisher=Longmans|year=1872|page=1884}}</ref> depths in the Geological Survey (London Basin);<ref>{{cite book|author=H.M. Stationery Office|title=Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Great Britain and the Museum of Economic Geology in London|volume=4|issue=1|year=1872|page=566}}</ref> the depth of an archaeological find;<ref>{{cite wikisource | last1=Owen | first1=Richard | title=Antiquity of man as deduced from the discovery of a human skeleton during the excavations for the East and West India dock-extensions at Tilbury, north Bank of the Thames | wslink=Antiquity of Man as Deduced from the Discovery of a Human Skeleton | publisher=Van Voorst | year=1884 | page=3 | firsticon=yes | noicon=yes }}</ref> and for railway elevations.<ref>{{cite book|last=Walker|first=James|title=Report ... on the Proposed Lines for a Northern Railway|year=1835|publisher=W.N. Knight|page=3}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Mogg|first=Edward|year=1841|title=Mogg's Great Western Railway and Windsor, Bath, and Bristol|publisher=E. Mogg|page=23}}</ref>

Despite the importance of the Trinity Standard benchmark for legal purposes, it appears that there were discrepancies, some of them grave. Inconsistent standards purporting to be T.H.W. existed.<ref name="Hall1943"/>  Some stones set by Captain Huddart afterwards could not be found.<ref>{{cite web|title=On This Day in Trinity House History – 20 June|work=Trinity House History|date=20 June 2014|url=https://trinityhousehistory.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/on-this-day-in-trinity-house-history-20-june/#:~:text=Sir%20James%20Douglass%20Engineer-in-Chief%20Exactly%2065%20years%20later%2C,Docks%2C%20but%20only%20one%20stone%20has%20been%20found.|access-date=15 January 2021}}</ref>

Eventually, it was deemed by the [[Port of London Act 1968]] to be a level having a value of {{convert|11.4|ft}} above [[Ordnance Datum Newlyn]].<ref>*{{cite web|title=Chart Datum and Standard Levels in the Port of London|website=Port of London Authority|url=http://www.pla.co.uk/assets/PLA_TIDEBOOK__2009_30.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.pla.co.uk/assets/PLA_TIDEBOOK__2009_30.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|access-date=15 January 2020}}</ref> and thus the connection with the Trinity House marker stones was abandoned.

==Nautical assessors==
In legal cases involving issues of [[navigation]] or [[seamanship]] ''eg.'' collisions at sea, Elder Brethren of Trinity House act as [[Expert witnesses in English law|expert nautical advisors]] to the [[Admiralty court#England and Wales|Admiralty Court]] in [[London]].  Usually, two Elder Brethren sit with the [[Judge of the High Court of Admiralty|Admiralty judge]].  Their function is not to decide the case themselves, but to advise the presiding judge about the practicalities of seamanship and ship handling.  When this happens, the parties are not allowed to produce expert witnesses of their own without a special reason, since the court considers itself to be well enough advised already.  But if one of the colliding ships was a Trinity House vessel, Elder Brethren cannot be employed.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Dickey|first=Anthony|title=The Province and Function of Assessors in English Courts|journal=The Modern Law Review|year=1970|volume=33|issue=5|pages=494–507|doi=10.1111/j.1468-2230.1970.tb01293.x|jstor=1093912}}</ref> Elder Brethren may perform the same functions in appeals.<ref>In ''Evergreen Marine (UK) Ltd v. Nautical Challenge Ltd'' [2021] UKSC 6 three sets of Elder Brethren successively advised the Admiralty Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.</ref>

In a 2020 case<ref>''Owners Of The Vessel Sakizaya Kalon v. Owners Of The Vessel Panamax Alexander'' [2020] EWHC 2604 (Admlty).</ref> about a multiple ship collision in the [[Suez Canal]] the Admiralty judge wrote a 306-paragraph judgment ending thus:

{{Blockquote|I am grateful to Trinity House and its Elder Brethren for the expert and wholly independent advice they give to the Admiralty Court (and have given for over four centuries) on questions of seamanship and ship handling. Trinity House, since its incorporation in 1514, has been dedicated to the safety of navigation and the advice given by the Elder Brethren enables the Admiralty Court to ensure that its decisions reflect and uphold the standards and requirements of good seamanship... [O]ne of the functions of the Admiralty Court is to help to avoid collisions in the future, [and] Trinity House has an essential role in ensuring that that function of the Admiralty Court is discharged.}}

==Operational responsibilities and role of the Corporation==
[[File:Trinity House, Harwich.jpg|thumb|Trinity House, Harwich, Essex]]

Trinity House has three main functions:
*It is the [[General Lighthouse Authority]] for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar, responsible for a range of general aids to navigation, 'signs of the sea', from [[lighthouse]]s to [[radar beacon]]s.
*It is a [[charitable organisation]] dedicated to the safety, welfare and training of mariners.
*It is a [[Pilotage Act 1987|Deep Sea Pilotage Authority]], licensing expert navigators to act as deep sea pilots for ships trading in Northern European waters.

The Corporation also inspects buoys provided by local harbour authorities. It no longer provides local pilots for entering ports. Contrary to popular belief, Trinity House is not (and never has been) part of [[Her Majesty's Coastguard|HM Coastguard]], although it does work closely with [[Majesty|HM]] [[Maritime and Coastguard Agency]].

Trinity House's activities as a lighthouse authority are financed from "[[light dues]]" levied on commercial shipping calling at ports in the [[United Kingdom]].

==Assets==
[[File:Bow Creek Lighthouse dusk.JPG|thumb|The surviving one of a pair of experimental lighthouses at [[Trinity Buoy Wharf]], used by [[Michael Faraday|Faraday]] and later used for training (closed 1988)]]
[[File:Trinity House Flag on Portland Bill Lighthouse.JPG|thumb|Trinity House Flag flying at [[Portland Bill Lighthouse]], Dorset]]

*[[Lighthouses in England]]
*[[Lightvessels in the United Kingdom]]

===Lighthouses===
Trinity House maintains 65<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/lighthouses/lighthouse_list/index.html| title=Lighthouse List| publisher=Trinity House| access-date=28 April 2015| archive-date=20 May 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520065333/http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/lighthouses/lighthouse_list/index.html| url-status=dead}}</ref> lighthouses ranging from isolated rock towers like the [[Eddystone Lighthouse|Eddystone]] to mainland towers like [[Southwold lighthouse]].

All Trinity House lighthouses have been automated since November 1998, when the UK's last staffed lighthouse, [[North Foreland]] in [[Kent]], was converted to automatic operation. Lighthouse automation began as long ago as 1910, thanks to an invention of [[Gustaf Dalén]], whose [[sun valve]] was fitted in a number of lighthouses powered by [[acetylene gas]]. Its vital component was a black metal rod suspended vertically and connected to the gas supply which, as it absorbed the sun's heat, the rod expanded downwards, cutting off the gas during the day.<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/technology/lighthouse/20th-century-lighthouses#ref593043 www.britannica.com]</ref>

Automation in the modern context began in the early 1980s, made possible firstly by the construction of lantern-top helipads at remote rock lighthouses, to enable the rapid transfer of technicians to a lighthouse in the event of a breakdown, and secondly, by the development of remote control technology, which enables all lighthouses and lightvessels to be monitored and controlled from the Trinity House Operations and Planning Centre at Harwich, Essex.<ref>''The Last Raid: The Commandos, Channel Islands and Final Nazi Raid'' {{ISBN|978-0-75096879-9}} ch. 7 (Operation Dryad)</ref>

The other General Lighthouse Authorities elsewhere in the [[British Isles]] are:
*[[Commissioners of Irish Lights]]&nbsp;— Ireland ([[Northern Ireland]] and [[Republic of Ireland]])
*[[Northern Lighthouse Board]] (formerly Commissioners of Northern Lights)&nbsp;— [[Scotland]] and [[Isle of Man|Man]]

===Vessels===
====Ships====
[[File:THV Patricia, off Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK.jpg|thumb|THV ''Patricia'', off Cowes, Isle of Wight (September 2017)]]
[[File:THV Alert.jpg|thumb|THV ''Alert'' entering Harwich Harbour on 6 September 2009]]
Trinity House [[Watercraft|vessel]]s have the [[ship prefix]] THV. {{As of|2020}} three such vessels operate around the coast of England, Wales and the Channel Islands.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/commercial_activities/commercial_services/vessel_services.html| title=Commercial Services| publisher=Trinity House| access-date=2008-08-02| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607072446/http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/commercial_activities/commercial_services/vessel_services.html| archive-date=7 June 2008| df=dmy-all}}</ref>
*[[THV Patricia|THV ''Patricia'']] (1982) is an {{convert|86.3|m|adj=on}} [[Buoy tender|multi-functional tender]] that carries out maintenance work on navigation aids, towing, wreck location and marking. She has a [[helipad|helicopter-landing pad]], a 20-tonne main crane and 28-tonne bollard pull and towing [[winch]].
*[[THV Alert|THV ''Alert'']] (2006) is a {{convert|39.3|m|adj=on}} [[Patrol boat|Rapid Intervention Vessel]], able to respond rapidly to maritime incidents off the southeast coast of England. She is capable of buoy handling, wreck marking and towing. Fitted with multibeam and side-scan hydrographic surveying capability and DP1 dynamic positioning, ''Alert'' can be utilised as a research platform with a large working deck.
*[[THV Galatea|THV ''Galatea'']] (2007) is an {{convert|84|m|adj=on}} [[Lighthouse tender|multi-functional tender]] with a [[Helipad|helicopter-landing pad]]. Fitted with a range of high specification survey equipment and a 30-tonne capacity [[Crane (machine)|crane]], [[Azimuth thruster|azimuthing propellers]], two 750&nbsp;kW [[Maneuvering thruster|bow thruster]]s and DP2 dynamic positioning, ''Galatea'' replaced the 1987-built THV ''Mermaid''.

====Boats====
The Corporation operates a number of small boats, mostly functioning as [[Ship's tender|tender]]s to Trinity House vessels as described in the section above. The historic right of Trinity House to escort the [[monarch|Sovereign]] when travelling by ship in [[territorial waters]] is still exercised on [[Ceremony|ceremonial occasion]]s. On the River Thames and inland waterways the duty is carried out by the vessel designated ''Trinity House No 1 Boat'',<ref>{{cite web| title=HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations| year=2012| url=http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/news_info/press_releases/2012/hm_queens_diamond_jubilee_celebrations.html| publisher=Trinity House| access-date=4 June 2012| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603055328/http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/news_info/press_releases/2012/hm_queens_diamond_jubilee_celebrations.html| archive-date=3 June 2012| df=dmy-all}}</ref> a name which designates any boat assigned to this duty; {{As of|2020|lc=y}} a tender of THV ''Galatea'' is used for such ceremonial duties.<ref>The designation "Tender to THV ''Galatea''" is clearly visible beneath the Royal Standard in [http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/news_info/press_releases/2012/hm_queens_diamond_jubilee_celebrations.html this photograph] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603055328/http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/news_info/press_releases/2012/hm_queens_diamond_jubilee_celebrations.html |date=3 June 2012 }}.</ref> However, for the [[Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant]] on 3 June 2012, this boat had the name "T.H. No 1 Boat" painted onto the bow (port and starboard) whilst carrying the Master (the Princess Royal) in the jubilee flotilla.<ref>{{cite web | last=Bartram | first=Graham | title=A Visual Guide to the Flags Used in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant | url=http://www.flaginstitute.org/Thames_Pageant_Flag_Guide.pdf | page=9 | publisher=[[The Flag Institute]] | access-date=4 June 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307100005/http://www.flaginstitute.org/Thames_Pageant_Flag_Guide.pdf | archive-date=7 March 2014 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> On 8 November 2014, Trinity House entered a float for the annual [[Lord Mayor's Show]] in the [[City of London]], consisting of a heavy low-loader lorry, with the ''Trinity House No 1 Boat'' mounted on the low-loader trailer as an exhibit.

===Property===
As a charitable body, the corporation has owned a number of properties for benevolent purposes, chief among them the [[Estate (land)|estate]] at [[Newington, London|Newington]] in [[south London]] (now rebranded as Trinity Village) and [[almshouse]]s at [[Deptford]], [[Mile End]], and [[Walmer]]; the last of these estates was built in 1958 and remains in use by the corporation today as one of two listed estates: one of predominantly residential buildings at Trinity Village in [[Borough, London]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trinityvillage.co.uk| title=Trinity Village|publisher=Trinity Village|access-date=28 April 2015}}/</ref> and a working farm, formerly [[Felix Booth#Life and family|Booth property]], at [[Goxhill]] in [[Lincolnshire]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://trinityhousehistory.wordpress.com/tag/goxhill-estate/| title=Trinity House History| date=28 February 2014| access-date=28 April 2015}}</ref> The rents from these properties form a substantial part of the Corporation's income.<ref>{{cite web | last=Trinity House | title=Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2014 | url=http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/pdfs/annual_accounts_2013_14.pdf | page=43 | access-date=28 April 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419070217/http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/pdfs/annual_accounts_2013_14.pdf | archive-date=19 April 2015 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===Other assets===
Amongst other significant assets, Trinity House operates a [[helicopter]] capable of landing on lighthouse and [[Helipad|ship landing pad]]s. From May 2011 to November 2015, the aircraft in principal use was an [[MD Helicopters MD Explorer|MD Helicopters MD Explorer 902]] owned by [[National Police Air Service|Police Aviation Services (PAS)]] and operated under lease.<ref>{{cite news | last=Robinson | first=Simon | title=New Helicopter — New Ways of Working | url=http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/horizon/2011-11/ | pages=18–19 | access-date=4 June 2012 | newspaper=Horizon | date=Winter 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604154907/http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/horizon/2011-11/ | archive-date=4 June 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> Since December 2015 a [[Eurocopter EC135]] G-GLAA owned and operated by [[List of airlines of the United Kingdom#Helicopter operators|PDG Aviation Services]] has fulfilled the role.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/news/new-helicopter-g-glaa-for-gla-contract | title=New Helicopter 'G-GLAA' for GLA Contract | date=12 October 2015 }}</ref>

==Ensign==
The [[Ensign (flag)|Ensign]] of Trinity House is a [[British ensign|British]] [[Red Ensign]] defaced with the [[Escutcheon (heraldry)|shield of the coat of arms]] (a [[St George's Cross]] with a [[sailing ship]] in each [[Division of the field|quarter]]). The Master and Deputy Master each have their own [[Cadency#Ways of differencing|differenced]] [[Heraldic flag|flag]]s.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.flags.net/UNKG13.htm| publisher=World Flag Database & Graham Bartram| title=Trinity House| access-date=28 April 2015}}</ref>

When escorting the Sovereign, Trinity House vessels may fly the [[White Ensign]].<ref>
{{cite web|title=The Colours of the Fleet|first=Malcolm|last=Farrow|url=http://www.flaginstitute.org/pdfs/the_colours_of_the_fleet.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.flaginstitute.org/pdfs/the_colours_of_the_fleet.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|page=19|publisher=[[The Flag Institute]]|access-date=5 June 2013}}
</ref>

<gallery>
File:Trinity House Flag (pre-1937).svg|[[Banner of arms|Banner]] (pre-1937)
File:Trinity House Ensign (pre-1937).svg|Ensign (pre-1937)
File:Trinity House Master's Flag RMG RP-32-3-4.jpg|[[George V|Master's]] [[Heraldic flag|Flag]] (1901–37)
File:Trinity House Flag.svg|Banner (1937–present)
File:Trinity House Ensign.svg|Ensign (1937–present)
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[His Majesty's Coastguard]]
*[[Northern Lighthouse Board]]
*[[Commissioners of Irish Lights]]
*[[International Association of Lighthouse Authorities|IALA – The International Association of Lighthouse Authorities]]
*[[List of oldest companies]]
*Two other institutions, with a similar history and longevity, are licensed for the examination and licensing of deep-sea pilots in England:
**[[Hull Trinity House]]
**[[Newcastle-upon-Tyne Trinity House]] 
*[[Trinity House National Lighthouse Museum]]
*[[National Coastwatch Institution]] voluntary organisation coverering England and Wales
*[[Lightvessels in the United Kingdom]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*[http://www.trinityhousehull.org.uk/ The Corporation of the Hull Trinity House, established 1369.]
*[http://www.trinityhousenewcastle.org.uk/ The Newcastle Trinity House.]
*[http://www.europilots.org.uk europilots.org.uk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424230454/http://www.europilots.org.uk/ |date=24 April 2018 }} 
*"''A fortnight in Egypt at the opening of the Suez Canal''" London : Smith and Ebbs, 1869. Written by Captain Sir Frederick Arrow [Deputy Master of Trinity House]

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{EB1911 poster|Trinity House, Corporation of|Trinity House}}
*[http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk Trinity House official website]
*[http://suffolk.activeboard.com/t43999598/trinity-house-vessels-lightships-hm-customs/ Photos of vessels]
*[http://www.feuerschiffseite.de/u-englgb.htm English Lightships] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118012905/http://www.feuerschiffseite.de/u-englgb.htm |date=18 January 2014 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070729132839/http://www.iala-aism.org/web/index.html International Association of Lighthouse Authorities]
*[http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/ConNarrative.64/chapterId/1414/Trinity-House.html History of Trinity House] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702093117/http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/ConNarrative.64/chapterId/1414/Trinity-House.html |date=2 July 2013 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20210926110549/https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/7768/response/18726/attach/2/CURRENT%20ROYAL%20CHARTERS%201685%201978.PDF.pdf 1685 Royal Charter of Trinity House]
*[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=1253 Trinity Hospital, Mile End – Survey of London, Monograph 1]
*[http://thegrimsaypress.co.uk/biblio/1845301390.htm James Alexander Riach, ''The Captain's Log: From Conway and Clan Line to Trinity House''. With an Introduction by Glen Murray and Afterword by Alan Riach (The Grimsay Press, 2013).]

{{Lighthouses of Trinity House}}
{{Lightvessels}}
{{Lighthouses}}
{{Department for Transport}}
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[[Category:Trinity House| ]]<!--eponymous category first-->
[[Category:1514 establishments in England]]<!-- Please respect alphabetical order -->
[[Category:Grade I listed buildings in the City of London]]
[[Category:Department for Transport]]
[[Category:Lighthouse organizations]]
[[Category:National government buildings in London]]
[[Category:Non-departmental public bodies of the United Kingdom government]]
[[Category:Organisations based in the City of London]]
[[Category:Water transport in England]]
[[Category:Water transport in Wales]]
[[Category:Seafarers' Welfare Organizations]]