Peninnis Lighthouse is situated on Peninnis Head, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly.
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| Location | St Mary's Isles of Scilly England |
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| OS grid | SV9110509372 |
| Coordinates | 49°54′17″N 6°18′13″W / 49.904624°N 6.303531°W |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1911 |
| Construction | metal tower |
| Height | 14 metres (46 ft) |
| Shape | circular skeletal tower lower half, closed tower upper half with balcony and lantern |
| Markings | black lower part, white upper part |
| Operator | Trinity House[1] |
| Heritage | Grade II listed building  |
| Light | |
| Focal height | 36 metres (118 ft) |
| Lens | 3rd order 500 millimetres (20 in) rotating |
| Intensity | 1,080 candela |
| Range | 9 nautical miles (17 km; 10 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 20s. |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Peninnis Head Lighthouse |
| Designated | 14 December 1992 |
| Reference no. | 1328857 |
History
editThe light was built to replace the lighthouse in the centre of the island of St Agnes and helps vessels to enter Hugh Town harbour, via St Mary's Sound. It was first lit in 1911, is circular, 45 feet (14 m) tall and consists of a black steel open lattice foundation, white gallery and black–domed top.
Initially, the lamp used was an incandescent burner which was powered by oil gas; the fuel was kept on site in four pressurised tanks (with a total capacity of 700 cubic feet), which the local Trinity House vessel would keep replenished.[2] It was classed as a 'semi-watched' light (i.e. it did not require the full-time attendance of a keeper). The rotating third-order optic was driven by clockwork; it displayed a white flash every 20 seconds and its beam had a range of 16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi).
In 1922 the lighthouse was converted to automatic acetylene operation.[3] (Acetylene was used to drive the rotating optic as well as fuelling the lamp).[4] It was converted to electricity in 1992.[5]
In late 2011, the year of its centenary, the lighthouse was updated, and at the same time downgraded (its visible range being reduced from 17 to 9 nautical miles (17 km; 10 mi) in accordance with the Trinity House 2010 Aids to Navigation review).[6][7] A single-tier LED lantern, mounted on the exterior rail of the structure, now provides the light; within the lantern the old revolving lens still remains in situ, but it is no longer in use.
See also
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References
edit- ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Southwest England (Devon and Cornwall)". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- ^ "Notes on Lighting". The British Trade Journal. 50: 155. 1 April 1912.
- ^ "General Lighthouse Fund". Parliamentary Papers. 19: 8. 1923.
- ^ Woodman, Richard; Wilson, Jane (2002). The Lighthouses of Trinity House. Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts.: Thomas Reed. p. 195.
- ^ Denton, Tony; Leach, Nicholas (2007). Lighthouses of England and Wales. A complete guide. Ashbourne: Landmark Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84306-3193.
- ^ Changes to lighthouse as it marks 100th year. Cornishman 28 July 2011. p 15.
- ^ "Peninnis Lighthouse". Archived from the original on 15 June 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
External links
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