Alderney Lighthouse

The Alderney Lighthouse (also known as Mannez Lighthouse) is a stone lighthouse built on the North-East coast of the island of Alderney. It was constructed in 1912[1] to protect shipping from the dangerous waters of the Alderney Race and the numerous rocks surrounding Alderney.

Alderney
Alderney Lighthouse
Channel Islands
LocationAlderney
English Channel
Coordinates49.7292°N 2.1643°W / 49.7292; -2.1643
Year first constructed1912
Automated1997
Constructiongranite tower
Tower shapeconical tower with balcony and lantern attached to keeper's house
Markings / patternwhite tower with one broad black band
Tower height32 metres (105 ft)
Focal height37 metres (121 ft)
Original lens1st Order 920mm 4 panel Catadioptric
Current lens2 X 4-tier LED Lantern
Intensity4,140 candela
Range12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi)
CharacteristicFl W (4) 15s
Fog signalsiren: 3 blasts every 20 seconds
whistle: 2 blasts ever 15 seconds
Admiralty numberA1536
NGA number8300
ARLHS numberGUE-004
Managing agentTrinity House

History

The Alderney Lighthouse was constructed from granite in 1912 under the guidance of local businessman William Baron. It was electrified in 1976, and automated in 1997, when the last resident lighthouse keeper left. The Trinity House Central Planning Unit in Essex controls and maintains the lighthouse.[2][3]

Before its construction there were several notable wrecks off Alderney, including the Leros. It still functions as a lighthouse, but is open for guided tours during the summer months[4] when it is linked with the rest of the island by the Alderney Railway.

In March 2011 the lighthouse was downgraded. The light reduced from 24hrs with a 23 nautical miles (43 km; 26 mi) range to dark hours only with a 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi).[5] This downgrade meant that the main beam was switched off, the lens shrouded and the light pulse now provided by a pair of LED lamps fixed to the sides of the tower.[6] The fog signal was stopped at the same time.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Mannez Lighthouse". Archived from the original on 12 April 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  2. "Alderney Lighthouse". Trinity House. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  3. "Mannez lighthouse on Alderney is well known to Channel Island sailors". Visit Alderney. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  4. The Alderney Journal- ‘Alderney Lighthouse’
  5. "BBC News - Reach of Alderney lighthouse beam to be halved". BBC. 12 March 2011. Archived from the original on 19 March 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  6. "Alderney Lighthouse" (PDF). U.S. Lighthouse Society - Lighthouses of the United Kingdom. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  7. "BBC News - Call to retain Guernsey and Alderney foghorns". BBC. 3 April 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2011.


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