Longstone Lighthouse

Longstone Lighthouse
Longstone Lighthouse
Northumberland
Location Longstone Rock
Farne Islands
Northumberland Coast
England
Coordinates 55°38′38″N 1°36′39″W / 55.643836°N 1.610836°W / 55.643836; -1.610836Coordinates: 55°38′38″N 1°36′39″W / 55.643836°N 1.610836°W / 55.643836; -1.610836
Year first constructed 1826
Automated 1990
Deactivated 2015-2016 (modernization)
Foundation stone and rock
Construction stone tower
Tower shape tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / pattern red tower with horizontal central white band, red lantern
Height 26 m (85 ft)
Focal height 23 m (75 ft)
Current lens small 3rd order catadioptric twin spectacle lens
Light source solar power
Intensity 645,000 candela
Range 24 nmi (44 km)
Characteristic Fl W 20s.
Admiralty number A2814
NGA number 2260
ARLHS number ENG 070
Managing agent Trinity House Edit this on Wikidata
Heritage Grade II listed building Edit this on Wikidata

Longstone Lighthouse is an active 19th century lighthouse 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.

History

Longstone Lighthouse was built and designed by Joseph Nelson in 1826, and was originally called the Outer Farne lighthouse.[1]

The site had a long history of need for a light. In the late 17th century Sir John Clayton, and later, in 1755, Captain J. Blackhead, requested a light for the island. Both were turned down because the authorities, the Elder Brethren of Trinity House, were unable to persuade affected parties to contribute to the maintenance of the light.[2]

In the mid-1820s the welfare of shipping won over and it was agreed that a lighthouse be constructed. The lighthouse originally used Argand lamps, but in 1952 was finally electrified, and in 1990 became fully automated, and the keepers withdrawn. It remains in use today and is now monitored remotely from the Trinity House Centre at Harwich, Essex.[2]

Tours of the lighthouse, which is only accessible by boat, are operated by The Golden Gate Boat Trip Company under licence from Trinity House.[3]

Optic

The lantern room at the top of the lighthouse used to contain an optic made by Chance Brothers of Smethwick.[4] It was made in 1873 and was used for almost 80 years.[4] The optic was made up from a number of Fresnel lens, which were used to increase the transmission of light from the lamp.[4] The optic is now on display at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Northeastern England". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  2. 1 2 "Longstone Lighthouse". Trinity House. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  3. ↑ "Discover the Farne Islands On the MV Golden Gate". Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Thinktank Trust. "Glass for lighthouses". Birmingham Stories. Thinktank Trust. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  5. ↑ Accession number: 1952S00029.00001
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