SOUTER Lighthouse, a landmark familiar to residents and visitors on the North-East coast on Monday marks exactly 150 years since it began its working life 1871. Now under the care of the National Trust, when it was first built Souter Lighthouse, on South Tyneside, was a technological marvel of its age. The coastline between the River Wear and River Tyne was treacherous to shipping, with submerged rocks and constant smog from local industry, claiming up to twenty ships a year. Trinity House, the organisation still responsible for lighthouses today, recognised that a new lighthouse was needed. Kate Devlin, National Trust collections and house officer at Souter Lighthouse said: "We’re proud of the fact that Souter plays an important part in the history of lighthouses.