Farne Lighthouse

Last updated

Farne Lighthouse
Farne Islands - geograph.org.uk - 946629.jpg
Farne Lighthouse
Farne Lighthouse
LocationFarne Islands
Northumberland
England
OS grid NU2177735811
Coordinates 55°36′55.3″N1°39′20.6″W / 55.615361°N 1.655722°W / 55.615361; -1.655722
Tower
Constructed1776 (first)
Constructionbrick tower
Automated1910
Height13 m (43 ft)
Shapecylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markingswhite tower and lantern
OperatorNational Trust (Farne Islands National Nature Reserve) [1] [2]
Heritage Grade II listed building   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Light
First lit1811 (current)
Focal height27 m (89 ft)
Lens3rd order catadioptric fixed lens
Light sourceLED
Intensity1,650 candela  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Range8 nmi (15 km; 9.2 mi)
Characteristic Fl (2) WR15s.

Farne Lighthouse is a lighthouse on the southern tip of Inner Farne (one of a group of islands off the coast of North Northumberland). Built in the early 19th century, it still functions as a lighthouse and is managed by Trinity House (England's general lighthouse authority). In 1910 it was one of the first Trinity House lighthouses to be automated. [3]

Contents

History

The lighthouse seen from the sea. Inner Farne Lighthouse - geograph.org.uk - 3167348.jpg
The lighthouse seen from the sea.

Farne Lighthouse was one of a pair built on Inner Farne by the Corporation of Trinity House in 1811, both of which were designed by Daniel Alexander to replace an earlier coal-burning light which had been established on the island by Captain John Blackett in 1778.

Farne Lighthouse (originally named Farne High Lighthouse) is a cylindrical white tower, 13 m (43 ft) tall with a lighthouse keeper's cottage attached to its base. It was initially provided with a revolving array of seven Argand lamps and reflectors, which displayed a single white flash every 30 seconds. In 1910 it was converted to run automatically on acetylene (manufactured in an adjacent producer plant and controlled by a sun valve); [4] a new fixed third order Fresnel lens was installed in the lantern [5] and a red sector was added to the main light to indicate lines of approach that were hazardous for shipping. [6] (That same year saw the nearby Bamburgh Lighthouse established, with a sector light that worked in conjunction with the Inner Farne light. [6] ) This arrangement largely remains in place, except that in 1996 the light was converted from acetylene to solar powered electric operation. [4]

Lighthouse, former dwelling and acetylene plant (left-right). Inner Farne Lighthouse (48397913441).jpg
Lighthouse, former dwelling and acetylene plant (left-right).

The other lighthouse on the island (Farne Low Lighthouse) was an octagonal tower, 8 m (26 ft) tall, placed 150 m (490 ft) away from the first, close to the north-west tip of the island. It served to warn shipping of the Megstone, an isolated rocky island lying (in line with the two lights) just under a mile away to the north-west. [7] Whereas the High Light revolved, the Low Light showed a fixed beam from a single Argand lamp and reflector; [8] it was monitored by the keeper at the High Lighthouse, the light being made visible through a small aperture in the rear of the Low Lighthouse. [9]

After the High Light had been modified and automated in 1910, use of the Low Light was discontinued; before long it was demolished along with most of the keepers' accommodation (which was now no longer needed). [8]

Associated lighthouses

In 1811, at the same time as it was building the two lighthouses on Inner Farne, Trinity House also built a new lighthouse on one of the outer Farne Islands: Brownsman Island. This light was also designed by Daniel Alexander and was similar to the other two in appearance and layout but taller; [10] it too was equipped with a revolving set of lamps and reflectors. [11] It likewise replaced an earlier light built by Captain Blackett in 1778 (on nearby Staple Island, but subsequently relocated to Brownsman). [8] The 1811 installation on Brownsman Island was itself later moved to a more effective position on Longstone Island, further out to sea; like Longstone Lighthouse, it too remains active as an aid to navigation for Trinity House.

Present day

As viewed from Seahouses. Seahouses MMB 21 Farne Islands.jpg
As viewed from Seahouses.

The tower is 13 m (43 ft) tall with a range for the light of 8 nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi). [12] Farne Island Lighthouse was sold on 6 June 2005 to the National Trust for £132,000; nevertheless it remains an operational lighthouse, with relevant areas of the building having been leased back to Trinity House for a peppercorn rent. [13] In 2022 permission was given for the lamp to be replaced with an LED arrangement, [14] which will continue to function within the original lens. [5]

See also

Notes

  1. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Northeastern England". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  2. Farne Island Lighthouse Trinity House. Retrieved 1 May 2016
  3. Jones, Robin (2014). Lighthouses of the North East Coast. Wellington, Somerset: Halsgrove. p. 28.
  4. 1 2 "Farne Lighthouse". Trinity House. Archived from the original on 10 March 2013.
  5. 1 2 "Inner Farne Lighthouse - DAS incorporating Heritage Report (Nov. 2021)" (PDF). Northumberland County Council. Trinity House. Retrieved 9 May 2022.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. 1 2 "Farne Lighthouse". Worldwide Lighthouses. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  7. "Lighthouses on the Farne Islands". National Trust. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 Middleton, Penny. "Historic Environment Survey for the National Trust: The Farne Islands" (PDF). Archaeo-Environment Ltd. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  9. Elliot, George H. (1875). European Light-House Systems. London: Lockwood & co. p. 130. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  10. Original design: elevation.
  11. Original design: section.
  12. "Notice to Mariners, 02/02/2022: 9/2022 Inner Farne Lighthouse". Trinity House. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  13. "The General Lighthouse Fund 2004-2005" (PDF). The Stationery Office. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  14. Smith, Ian (17 February 2022). "Northumberland lighthouse works get the green light". Northumberland Gazette. Retrieved 9 May 2022.


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lighthouse</span> Structure designed to emit light to aid navigation

A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid, for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longships Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse in England

Longships Lighthouse is an active 19th-century lighthouse about 1.25 mi (2.0 km) off the coast of Land's End in Cornwall, England. It is the second lighthouse to be built on Carn Bras, the highest of the Longships islets which rises 39 feet (12 m) above high water level. In 1988 the lighthouse was automated, and the keepers withdrawn. It is now remotely monitored from the Trinity House Operations & Planning Centre in Harwich, Essex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farne Islands</span> Island group off Northumberland, England

The Farne Islands are a group of islands off the coast of Northumberland, England. The group has between 15 and 20 islands depending on the level of the tide. They form an archipelago, divided into the Inner Group and the Outer Group. The main islands in the Inner Group are Inner Farne, Knoxes Reef, the East and West Wideopens, and the Megstone; the main islands in the Outer Group are Staple Island, Brownsman, North and South Wamses, Big Harcar, and Longstone. The two groups are separated by Staple Sound. The highest point, on Inner Farne, is 62 feet (19 m) above mean sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coquet Island</span> Lighthouse

Coquet Island is a small island of about 6 hectares, situated 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) off Amble on the Northumberland coast, northeast England. It is included in the civil parish of Hauxley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caldey Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Caldey Lighthouse is located on the south end of Caldey Island, three miles (5 km) off the south Pembrokeshire, Wales coastline, a small island inhabited by a Cistercian monastery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of lighthouses</span>

The history of lighthouses refers to the development of the use of towers, buildings, or other types of structure, as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pendeen Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse

Pendeen Lighthouse, also known as Pendeen Watch is an active aid to navigation located 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to the north of Pendeen in west Cornwall, England. It is located within the Aire Point to Carrick Du SSSI, the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Penwith Heritage Coast. The South West Coast Path passes to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Anthony's Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse

St Anthony's Lighthouse is the lighthouse at St Anthony Head, on the eastern side of the entrance to Falmouth harbour, Cornwall, UK. The harbour is also known as Carrick Roads and is one of the largest natural harbours in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lizard Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse on the south coast of Cornwall, England

The Lizard Lighthouse is a lighthouse at Lizard Point, Cornwall, England, built to guide vessels passing through the English Channel. It was often the welcoming beacon to persons returning to England, where on a clear night, the reflected light could be seen 100 mi (160 km) away.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longstone Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse on one of the Farne Islands, England

Longstone Lighthouse is an active 19th century lighthouse located on Longstone Rock in the outer group of the Farne Islands off the Northumberland Coast, England. Completed in 1826, it was originally called the Outer Farne Lighthouse, and complemented the earlier Inner Farne Lighthouse. The lighthouse is best known for the 1838 wreck of the Forfarshire and the role of Grace Darling, the lighthouse keeper's daughter, in rescuing survivors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cromer Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse

Cromer Lighthouse is situated in the coastal town of Cromer, in the English county of Norfolk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurst Point Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse in Hampshire, England

Hurst Point Lighthouse is located at Hurst Point in the English county of Hampshire, and guides vessels through the western approaches to the Solent.

The High lighthouse or pillar lighthouse is one of three lighthouses in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, England. A Grade II listed building, it is no longer functional as a lighthouse and has been converted for use as a private dwelling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bamburgh Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse

Bamburgh Lighthouse was built by Trinity House in 1910 to guide shipping both passing along the Northumberland coast and in the waters around the Farne Islands. It was extensively modernised in 1975 and is now monitored from the Trinity House Operations and Planning Centre in Harwich. Routine maintenance is carried out by a local attendant. It is the most northerly land-based lighthouse in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lowestoft Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse in Lowestoft, England

Lowestoft Lighthouse is a lighthouse operated by Trinity House located to the north of the centre of Lowestoft in the English county of Suffolk. It stands on the North Sea coast close to Ness Point, the most easterly point in the United Kingdom. It acts as a warning light for shipping passing along the east coast and is the most easterly lighthouse in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dungeness Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse

Dungeness Lighthouse on the Dungeness Headland started operation on 20 November 1961. Its construction was prompted by the building of Dungeness nuclear power station, which obscured the light of its predecessor which, though decommissioned, remains standing. The new lighthouse is constructed of precast concrete rings; its pattern of black and white bands is impregnated into the concrete. It remains in use today, monitored and controlled from the Trinity House Operations and Planning Centre at Harwich, Essex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casquets lighthouses</span> Lighthouse

Casquets Lighthouse is an active lighthouse located on the rocky Les Casquets, Alderney, Channel Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walney Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse

Walney Lighthouse is a functioning lighthouse located on Walney Island in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. The current building dates to the early 19th-century and is Grade II* listed as well as being the southernmost man-made structure in Cumbria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Agnes Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse

St. Agnes lighthouse is a 17th century lighthouse situated on St Agnes on the Isles of Scilly. It was the second to be built in the western approaches ; it was also only the second lighthouse station to be established by Trinity House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lighthouses on Lundy</span>

The isle of Lundy has three lighthouses: a pair of active lights built in 1897 and an older lighthouse dating from 1797.