Description from record TR 34 SE 14:
(TR 36254338) Old Lighthouse (NAT) (1) St Margaret's Old Lighthouse, The Front (South Foreland). Grade II. Built 1795, rebuilt 1843. (2) Additional bibliography. (3-5)

During the Second World War the Low Lighthouse was used as the Officers Mess for 540 Regiment and the Fire Command Radar was located in the old lighthouse top (6)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TR 34 SE ST MARGARET'S AT CLIFFE THE FRONT (south Foreland) 6/57 St. Margaret's 22.8.66 Old Lighthouse
GV II
Lighthouse. Built 1795, rebuilt 1843. Red brick rendered with Roman cement, with cast iron lantern. Octagonal plan. Two storeys, with machicolated battlements. Lantern with latticed windows. Two four centred arched doorways, with entrance porch missing, one leading to basement, that to right to main stair, with niche between. Interior: staircase winds inside main chamber, with cast iron floors, the walls originally panelled and surviving in part. Cast iron lantern, the light originally floated on a bed of mercury to maintain balance. Glazing lost. The single storey outbuilding described in previous survey has fallen victim to the receding cliffline. Sold by Trinity House with the establishment of the Goodwin Lightship.
Listing NGR: TR3591143305 (7)

<1> OS 1:10000 1976 (OS Card Reference). SKE48161.

<2> DOE(HHR) Dist of Dover 1987 25 (OS Card Reference). SKE40937.

<3> The Bldgs of Eng NE and E Kent 1983 437 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE50127.

<4> The NT Guide to Our Industrial Past 1983 170 (A Burton) (OS Card Reference). SKE50447.

<5> Lighthouses 1975 19 101 301 (DB Hague, R Christie) (OS Card Reference). SKE46130.

<6> John A. Guy, 2013-, Verbal communication from John Guy, defence expert working in the Dover area (Verbal communication). SKE24831.

<7> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.