Skokholm Lighthouse
Skokholm Lighthouse is a lighthouse on Skokholm Island, just off the southwest coast of Pembrokeshire, Wales.
 Skokholm Lighthouse | |
  Wales | |
| |
| Location | Skokholm Island Pembrokeshire Wales United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51.693849°N 5.286933°W |
| Year first constructed | 1916 |
| Automated | 1983 |
| Construction | masonry tower |
| Tower shape | octagonal tower with balcony and lantern on a 2-storey keeper’s house |
| Markings / pattern | white tower and lantern |
| Tower height | 18 metres (59 ft) |
| Focal height | 54 metres (177 ft) |
| Current lens | 4th Order (250mm) catadioptric rotating |
| Light source | solar power |
| Intensity | 742 candela |
| Range | 8 nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl WR 10s. |
| Admiralty number | A5282 |
| NGA number | 5604 |
| ARLHS number | WAL-022 |
| Managing agent | Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales [1] [2] |
| Heritage | Grade II listed building  |
This small island is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is owned and managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and is the site of the United Kingdom's first bird observatory. A great variety of birds can be found on this uninhabited island.
History
The present lighthouse was constructed over several years up to 1915 and was officially opened in 1916. Forming a triangle of lights with South Bishop and the Smalls to protect shipping moving into and out of Milford Haven and the Bristol Channel, the lighthouse shines 20 miles (32 km).
Construction of the present lighthouse was only enabled after the construction of a new jetty. This enabled building materials to be landed, which were then moved to the site using a narrow gauge railway, initially powered by a donkey, then a pony, and finally a tractor. Once in operation, relief was provided by boat from Holyhead. Automated in 1983, it is now monitored and controlled from the Trinity House Operations Control Centre at Harwich in Essex.[3]
References
- Skokholm The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2 June 2016
- Skokholm Lighthouse Trinity House. Retrieved 2 June 2016
- "Skokholm Lighthoure". Trinity House. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
