The Lizard Lighthouse A0060, Cornwall UK
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Lat./Long:
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49º57.6'N,
5º12.1'W
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Character:
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Fl W 3s
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Height of tower:
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19 m
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Elevation:
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70 m
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Visible:
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26 M
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Fog
Signal:
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Horn
(2) 60s
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First lit:
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1619, 1751
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We saw this beautiful station on the 26th of March 2002 and again in April 2007.
The first thing you see, when walking towards the lighthouse is the sign on the left. It is mounted by the gate and made us glad that the sun was shining!
The distinctive
twin towers of the Lizard Lighthouse mark the most southerly point of mainland
Britain.
Sir John
Killigrew, a philanthropic Cornishman, applied for a patent to build a
lighthouse, which was granted with the proviso that the light should be
extinguished at the approach of the enemy.
A light was erected and finished at Christmas 1619. The lighthouse proved to be great benefit to mariners. However, the ship owners offered nothing for its upkeep, and the mounting costs of maintenance were bankrupting Killigrew. In the face of more opposition from Trinity House, James I set a fee of one halfpenny a ton on all vessels passing the light. This caused such an uproar from the ship owners that the patent was withdrawn, the light extinguished and the tower demolished.
It was not until 1748 that Trinity House allowed another lighthouse to be built. It was completed in 1751, and consisted of two towers, with cottages built between them, in which a supervisor had to lay on a sort of couch, with a window on either side commanding a view of the lanterns. When the men blowing the bellows slackened and the fires dimmed, he would remind them of their duties by a blowing a cow horn.
A light was erected and finished at Christmas 1619. The lighthouse proved to be great benefit to mariners. However, the ship owners offered nothing for its upkeep, and the mounting costs of maintenance were bankrupting Killigrew. In the face of more opposition from Trinity House, James I set a fee of one halfpenny a ton on all vessels passing the light. This caused such an uproar from the ship owners that the patent was withdrawn, the light extinguished and the tower demolished.
It was not until 1748 that Trinity House allowed another lighthouse to be built. It was completed in 1751, and consisted of two towers, with cottages built between them, in which a supervisor had to lay on a sort of couch, with a window on either side commanding a view of the lanterns. When the men blowing the bellows slackened and the fires dimmed, he would remind them of their duties by a blowing a cow horn.
Trinity House
assumed responsibility in 1771. Structural alterations were made in 1812, which
left the station much as it is today. The Western Tower was discontinued soon
after 1903 and a single flashing light installed in the Eastern Tower.
This new flashing light was a 12
000 000 candle power arc lamp, which was apparently blamed for the bad pilchard
catches in the following season.
The Lizard Lighthouse was automated
in 1998.
Today the lighthouse is still in
use, but you can take tours around the station and up the tower where you can
see this beautiful lens and the reserve light up close. |
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we
had a great day at the Lizard in April 2007
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