LIGHTHOUSES AND LIGHT VESSELS AROUND THE COAST OF CORNWALL AND THE ISLES OF SCILLY
Bishop Rock Lighthouse
Eddystone Lighthouse
Godrevy Lighthouse
Lizard Lighthouse
Longships Lighthouse
Mevagissey Harbour Lighthouse
Newlyn Harbour Lighthouse
Pendeen Watch Lighthouse
Penzance Harbour Lighthouse
Round Island Lighthouse
Seven Stones Lightvessel
St Anthony's Head Lighthouse
St Ives Harbour Lighthouse
Tater Du Lighthouse
Trevose Head Lighthouse
Wolf Rock Lighthouse
Coordinates: 49º 52' 24" North. 06º 26' 41" West.
Range: 24 nautical miles.
Constructed: 1858.
First lit in 1858.
Helipad built: 1976.
Automated in 1992.
Height: 49m / 167ft
Intensity: 600,000 Candela.
Flash Characteristics: 2 white group flashes every 15 seconds.
The Bishop Rock is in the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest island with a building on it. Bishop Rock was the last of the West Country lighthouses to remain manned.
In 1994 the solid bronze doors of the Bishop Rock lighthouse, despite being situated 40ft above sea level and weighing over 100kg each, were smashed open by enormous waves during a storm, clearly demonstrating the power of the sea in this part of the Atlantic.
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Coordinates: 50º 10' 80" North. 04º 15' 90" West.
Winstanley’s Tower
The first lighthouse on Eddystone Rocks was an octagonal wooden structure built by Henry Winstanley. Construction started in 1696 and the light was lit on 14 November 1698. After the first winter it was in need of repair, and was changed to a dodecagonal (12 sided) stone clad exterior on a timber framed construction with an Octagonal top section. During the Great Storm of 1703 it disappeared almost without trace on 27th November. Henry Winstanley was on the lighthouse, completing additions to the structure. No trace was ever found of him.
Constructed: 1698.
First lit in 1698.
Rudyard's lighthouse
This was built as a conical wooden structure around a core of brick and concrete. A temporary light was first shown from it in 1708 and the work was completed in 1709. This proved to be more durable than Winstanley's Tower, surviving nearly fifty years until it burnt down on 2nd December 1755. One of the lighthouse keepers Henry Hall had discovered that a spark from the lamp had set the roof alight. He and his two companions were unable to put out the fire and they were forced to retreat down the tower until eventually the lighthouse burned down to the rocks. The next day, in spite of a storm, they were rescued by boat but they had to be pulled off the rock and through the raging waters by rope.
Henry died on the following Monday, 8th December 1755, aged 94, at his home in Plymouth. The autopsy showed that he had died from swallowing over 7 ounces of molten lead during the attempts to quell the fire. The actual piece of lead found in Henry's stomach is now exhibited in the National Museum of Scotland.
Trinity House placed a light vessel to guard the position until a permanent light could be built.
Construction completed: 1709.
First lit in 1708.
Smeaton's lighthouse
The third lighthouse on the Eddystone Rocks, built by civil engineer John Smeaton, was modelled the shape the trunk of an oak tree and built of granite blocks. Smeaton pioneered the use of 'hydraulic lime', a concrete that will set under water. He also developed the technique of securing the granite blocks using dovetail joints and marble dowels. After it was replaced by a new lighthouse on an adjoining rock, Smeaton's lighthouse was dismantled and rebuilt on Plymouth Hoe, in Plymouth, as a memorial.
Height: 18m / 59ft
Construction completed: 1759.
First lit on 16th October 1759.
Douglass's lighthouse
This is the current lighthouse on Eddystone Rocks. It was designed by James Douglass, following Robert Stevenson's improvements to Smeaton's techniques.
Constructed: 1882.
Range: 22 nautical miles.
First lit in 1882.
Helipad built: 1976.
Automated in 1982. The first off-shore lighthouse to be automated in the UK.
Height: 49m / 167ft
Intensity: 199,000 Candela.
Flash Characteristics: White group flashing twice every 10 seconds.
Fog Signal Characteristics: 3 blasts every 60 seconds.
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Photo by Tony Atkins
On the seaward side of Godrevy Island is a submerged reef known as the Stones which extends for approximately a mile (1.6 km) across the eastern approach to St Ives Bay.
Godrevy lighthouse was built to warn of the danger of this hidden reef following the wrecking of the SS Nile on 30th November 1854 with the loss of all passengers and crew.
Coordinates: 50º 14' 05" North. 05º 23' 09" West.
Range: White - 12 nautical miles, Red 9 nautical miles.
Constructed: 1859.
First lit: 1st March 1859.
Automated: 1939.
Converted to Solar Power: 1995.
Height: 26m / 86ft
Intensity: White Sector 4370 Candela, Red Sector 817 Candela.
Lamp: 75 Watt tungsten halogen.
Flash Characteristics: 1 white & red flash every 10 seconds.
It is reputed that the novelist Virginia Woolf got her inspiration for the novel To the Lighthouse from a visit to Godrevy Island. The island is a natural haven for wildlife including grey seals, cormorants, various gulls, oyster-catchers and pipits.
In 2005 Trinity House decided to de-activate the station. The decision was reversed after it was proved that the light is essential to local fishermen and yachtsmen sailing in the area.
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The first lighthouse was financed by a philanthropic Cornishman, Sir John Killigrew, and completed in late December 1619. Lack of financial support and an unwillingness of owners of the ships passing the lighthouse to make any contribution resulted in Killigrew being declared bankrupt. The first Lizard Lighthouse was demolished in 1623.
After 100 years without a warning light on this hazardous part of the Cornish coastline, the current lighthouse, built by Thomas Fonnereau, was completed in 1751. Trinity House took on responsibility for the Lizard lighthouse in 1771.
The building consists of two towers, with cottages built between them. The Western Tower was discontinued soon after 1903 and a single flashing light installed in the Eastern Tower.
Coordinates: 49º 57' 58" North. 05º 12' 07" West.
Range: 26 nautical miles (48 km).
Electrified: 1924.
Automated: 1998.
Height: 19m / 86ft
Intensity: 800,000 Candelas.
Lamp: 400 Watt MBI
Flash Characteristics: 1 white flash every 3 seconds.
Fog Signal Characteristics: 1 blast every 30 seconds.
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The first tower was built by a Lieutenant Smith in 1795 but it was quite short (about 12m). Although the tower was strong enough, when the sea was very fierce the waves regularly broke over the little lighthouse causing the light beam to be interrupted or obscured and its signal became confusing or lost altogether.
In 1873 it was replaced by a new taller tower, designed by Trinity House’s engineer Sir James Douglass (who a few years later created the present Eddystone lighthouse).
Coordinates: 50º 03' 97" North. 05º 44' 75" West.
Range: 18 nautical miles.
Constructed: 1873.
Automated: 1988.
Height: 35m.
Intensity: 40,500 candelas.
Lamp: 3 kilowatt.
Flash Characteristics: White and red isophase every 10 seconds(light 5 seconds, eclipse 5 seconds).
Fog Signal Characteristics: 1 blast every 10 seconds.
The artist William Turner captured the power of the seas around the lighthouse in his watercolour entitled 'Longships Lighthouse, Land's End'.
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The construction of the harbour to its present state was taken in various stages, with the construction of the outer harbour walls being completed in 1888. These were virtually destroyed in the great blizzard of 1891, and were rebuilt and completed by 1897. The new wall on the southern side of the outer harbour included the new lighthouse.
Coordinates: 51º 16' 01" North. 04º 46' 09" West.
Range: 12 nautical miles.
Constructed: 1897.
Height: 9m.
Flash Characteristics: 2 White flashes every 10 seconds.
Fog Signal Characteristics: 1 blast every 30 seconds.
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The light flashes once every five seconds.
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The buildings occupy a large area and before work could begin the cap of the Point had to be removed and the whole headland flattened, which necessitated the building of a huge retaining wall on the seaward side.
Two of the four former lighthouse keepers cottages are now holiday accommodation called called Argus Cottage and Solebay Cottage.
Coordinates: 50º 09' 85" North. 05º 40' 20" West.
Range: 16 nautical miles.
Constructed: 1900.
Electrified: 1926.
Automated: May 1995.
Height: 17m.
Intensity: 150,000 candelas.
Lamp: 35 Watt Mbi.
Flash Characteristics: White group flashing 4 times every 15 seconds (light 5 seconds, eclipse 5 seconds).
Fog Signal Characteristics: 1 blast every 20 seconds.
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Coordinates: 50º 07' 06" North. 05º 31' 71" West.
Built: 1855.
Height: 31ft.
Flash Characteristics: Red flash every 5 seconds with white sector.
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Coordinates: 49º 58' 70" North. 06º 19' 35" West.
Range: 24 nautical miles.
Constructed: 1887.
Height: 9m.
Electrified: 1966.
Automated: 1988.
Intensity: 340,000 candelas.
Flash Characteristics: 1 White flashes every 10 seconds.
Fog Signal Characteristics: 4 blasts every 60 seconds.
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Coordinates: 50º 03' North, 06º 04' West.
Most lightvesssels are now solar powered and unmanned.
Various lightvessels have been stationed at the Sevenstones Reef over the years:
September 1958 to 1980 Lightvessel No. 19.
1998 to 2001 Lightvessel No. 22.
2001 to 2003 Lightvessel No. 19.
2004 to date Lightvessel No. 2.
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Prior to 1954 the fog signal was a huge bell which hung outside the tower.
St Anthony lighthouse's modern claim to fame is that it featured in the opening credits and many scenes of the 1980's children's television series 'Fraggle Rock'.
The adjoining keepers’ cottage has now been converted into a holiday let, called Sally Port Cottage, which has some stunning views. Ear plugs will be required if the weather gets foggy.
Coordinates: 50º 08' 40" North, 05º 00' 09" West.
Built: 1835.
Height: 19m.
Electrified: 1954.
Automated: 1988.
Range: Main Light: White Sector: 22 nautical miles. Red Sector: 20 nautical miles.
Lamp: 1500 Watt
Intensity: White Sector: 210,000 Candela. Red Sector: 42,000 Candela.
Flash Characteristics: White and red every 15 seconds.
Fog Signal Characteristics: 3 second blast every 30 seconds.
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At that time it was at the end of the Pier. The pier was extended at a later date.
St Ives Harbour Lighthouse is no longer used.
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Coordinates: 50º 03' 12" North, 05º 34' 60" West.
Built: July 1965.
Height: 15m.
Range: Main Light: 23 nautical miles. Sector Light: 13 nautical miles.
Lamp: 70 Watt
Intensity: Main light: 294,000 candela. Sector light: 11,100 candela
Flash Characteristics: Main light: Three white flashes every 15 seconds. Sector light: Fixed red, 4 white flashes every 15 seconds.
Fog Signal Characteristics: 2 blasts of 1 second every 30 seconds.
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On 6th February 1913 the fog signal was added. It took the form of a very large trumpet; 36 feet long with the aperture 18 feet by 2 feet. It was expected that this shape would give a wide horizontal spread of sound. It stayed in use until the new fog signal was introduced in 1963 - a Supertyphon with 8 horns.
The four semi-detached keepers cottages, two each side of the light, are holiday lets (Nimbus Cottage, Verity Cottage, Pelorus Cottage and Brook Cottage). Access is via a mile long private road.
Coordinates: 50º 32'.92 North, 05º 02'.07 West.
Built: 1847.
Height: 27m.
Electrified: 1974.
Automated: 1995.
Range: 20 nautical miles.
Lamp: 35 Watt metal halide.
Intensity: 89,900 Candela.
Flash Characteristics: 1 white flash every 7.5 seconds.
Fog Signal Characteristics: 2 blasts every 30 seconds.
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The original building in 1795 was just an unlighted beacon or daymark. It could not stand up to the ferocity of the Atlantic waves and soon washed away. From 1836 to 1840 an iron beacon, built by lighthouse builder James Walker, stood on the rock and part of it still remains today as part of the landing stage. Construction work was very difficult due to the nature of the seas. It was recorded that in 5 years there were only 302 hours during which the work could be carried out.
In 1861 James Walker started on a granite tower based on Smeaton's Eddystone tower. Again progress was slow because of the environment. By the end of 1864 only 37 blocks in the 2nd course of masonry had been laid. The tower was finally completed on 19th July 1869 and first lit early in 1870. 3,297 tons of granite were used in constructing the tower and 1,078 tons of granite in constructing the landing platform.
The Wolf Rock Lighthouse is famous for being the first rock lighthouse to have a helideck constructed on top of the lantern housing. This became the prototype of many offshore Trinity House lighthouses.
Coordinates: 49° 56'.72 North 05° 48'.50 West.
Built: 1861.
Height: 41m.
Automated: 1988.
Range: 23 nautical miles.
Lamp: 1500 watt.
Flash Characteristics: White flash every 15 seconds.
Fog Signal Characteristics: 1 blast every 30 seconds.
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