The old lighthouse is set in the Flamborough Golf Course and it is approximately 800 yards from where the new lighthouse now stands. It was designed to have an open fire lit on top of it, although investigators have found no evidence of the lighthouse ever being lit!

Flamborough head as witnessed many significant historic events and non more so than The Battle of Flamborough Head which was fought on 23rd September 1779 between the ships of the Royal Navy and the United States Ships under the command of John Paul Jones. It was on that night that John Paul Jones engaged his ship, the Bonhomme Richard, with HMS Serapis and HMS Countess of Scarborough. The battle ended in victory for John Paul Jones with the capture of almost 500 prisoners.

Spectators lined the cliff tops watching the battle take place.