Trevose Head Lighthouse

Trevose Head Lighthouse

Trevose Head Lighthouse
Location Trevose Head
Cornwall
England
Coordinates 50°32′57″N 5°02′07″W / 50.549246°N 5.035173°W / 50.549246; -5.035173Coordinates: 50°32′57″N 5°02′07″W / 50.549246°N 5.035173°W / 50.549246; -5.035173
Year first constructed 1847
Automated 1995
Construction masonry tower
Tower shape cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern attached to the keeper's house
Markings / pattern white tower and lantern
Height 27 m (89 ft)
Focal height 62 m (203 ft)
Current lens 1st order 3 panel catadioptric
Intensity 279,000 candela
Range 21 nmi (39 km; 24 mi)
Characteristic Fl W 7.5s.
Fog signal 2 blasts every 30s.
Admiralty number A5638
NGA number 6272
ARLHS number ENG-157
Managing agent

Rural Retreats[1]

[2]

Trevose Head Lighthouse is a lighthouse on Trevose Head on the north Cornish coast at grid reference SW850766 lying to the WSW of Padstow [3] and was sited here as there was previously no light from Land's End to Lundy[4] and would be visible from Cape Cornwall to Hartland Point.[5]

The newly built Trevose Head lighthouse, Cornwall, England showing both 'high' and 'low' lights - from "The Illustrated London News" 1847

After completion of the first tower, it was determined that the light was under certain circumstances liable to be mistaken by mariners. A second lower light[6] was therefore proposed and constructed 50 feet in front of the first light, with a covered passage between them for use by the lighthouse keepers.[4] Only the first built 'high' light now remains.

The tower is 27 metres (89 ft) tall, and has a range of 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi), but, on a clear night, you can just spot the light from Pendeen Lighthouse, over 35 miles (56 km) away.

Construction

Designed by engineer James Walker[6] the two original lights, 'high' and 'low', were constructed under the supervision of Henry Norris [6] by builders Jacob & Thomas Olver of Falmouth [7][4][6] with the Fresnel lens supplied by Henry Lépaute of Paris [6] and the lamp with 4 concentric wicks & frame manufactured by Messrs. Wilkins & Co. of Long Acre.[4][6]

The site was surveyed by order of the Trinity Board in July 1844 with a design submitted that November and approved February 1845. Building began in that May with the laying out of the road and contract entered into with the builders the next month.[4] During gales on 20-21 November 1846 scaffolding attached to the tower was blown away.[8]

The light was first lit on 1 December 1847.[6][9]

In 1882 the 'high' light was changed to an occulting light and the 'low' light put out of use. In 1912 the light was again updated and work began on installing a 36 feet long fog horn which came into service in 1913 and was itself replaced by a new horn in 1963. The lighthouse was automated and became unmanned in 1995.[10]

See also


References

  1. ↑ Trevose Head The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved April 24, 2016
  2. ↑ Trevose Head Lighthouse Trinity House. Retrieved April 24, 2016
  3. ↑ "New Lighthouse on Trevose Head". The Sailors' Magazine. December 1847. p. 284. Retrieved 2008-11-20.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Illustrated London News". 16 October 1847.
  5. ↑ "Royal Cornwall Gazette". 3 November 1843. p. 8. Trevose Head is the only proper position for such lighthouse, as it is vible from all the coast between Cape Cornwall and Hartland Point
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Lighthouse management : the report of the Royal Commissioners on Lights, Buoys, and Beacons, 1861, examined and refuted Vol. 2". pp. 92, 93.
  7. ↑ "Royal Cornwall Gazette". 13 June 1845. p. 3. FALMOUTH EXPRESS...Messrs. Olver, builders, of this town, have taken a contract to build the intended Lighthouse on Trevose Head, near Padstow, which is to be completed in about 11 months.
  8. ↑ "Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette". 26 November 1846. p. 2. The storm on Friday and Saturday last...much of the scaffolding attached to the Trevose Lighthouse was blown away
  9. ↑ "Woolmer's Exeter and Plymouth Gazette". 11 December 1847. p. 8. The new light-house so long talked of on Trevose Head has at length been completed...The light was first exhibited on 1st instant.
  10. ↑ "Trinity House - Trevose Head". Retrieved 14 November 2013.
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