St Catherine's Oratory
The "Pepperpot" on St. Catherine's Hill. | |
| Location | St. Catherine's Down Isle of Wight |
|---|---|
| OS grid | SZ4936477278 |
| Coordinates | 50°35′35″N 1°18′14″W / 50.593167°N 1.303889°W |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1328 |
| Construction | stone tower |
| Height | 10.8 metres (35 ft) |
| Shape | octagonal tower with pyramidal roof |
| Operator | English Heritage |
| Heritage | Grade II listed building |
| Light | |
| First lit | 1328 |
| Deactivated | 1547 |
| Focal height | 240 m (790 ft) |
St. Catherine's Oratory is a medieval lighthouse on St. Catherine's Down, above the southern coast of the Isle of Wight. It was built by Lord of Chale Walter de Godeton (sometimes spelled "Goditon") as an act of penance for plundering wine from the wreck of St. Marie of Bayonne in Chale Bay on 20 April 1313. The tower is known locally as the "Pepperpot" because of its likeness to a pepper shaker.