Markings / pattern white tower Height 17 m Automated 1995 | Focal height 59 m Range 29,632 m Year first constructed 1900 | |
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Location PendeenCornwallEnglandUnited Kingdom Construction concrete rubblestone tower Tower shape cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern Original lens 1st order catadioptric fixed lens Current lens 1st order dioptric, 2 groups of 4 panels, rotating lens | ||
Pendeen lighthouse cornwall
Pendeen Lighthouse, also known as Pendeen Watch is located 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to the north of Pendeen in west Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is located within the Aire Point to Carrick Du SSSI, the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Penwith Heritage Coast. The South West Coast Path passes to the south.
Contents
Pendeen lighthouse
History
Trinity House decided to build a lighthouse and foghorn in 1891 and the building was designed by their engineer Sir Thomas Matthews. The 17 metres (56 ft) tower, buildings and surrounding wall was constructed by Arthur Carkeek of Redruth who had to flatten the headland before building could commence. The five–wick Argand lamp provided by Messrs Chance, of Smethwick near Birmingham, was commissioned on 26 September 1900 and replaced in 1926 by an electric one. The original Argand oil lamp was on display at the Trinity House National Lighthouse Museum, Penzance until 2005 when the museum closed. Pendeen Lighthouse was automated in 1995 with the keepers leaving the station on 3 May. Apart from the tower itself, with its machinery built into the base, there is an 'E' shaped building split into a terrace of four cottages. Three of the cottages were originally used to house the three resident keepers, their wives and families, with the fourth used as an office area and sleeping accommodation for the supernumerary keepers. They are now let as holiday cottages. Behind the cottages are three kitchen gardens (which soon fell into disuse as nothing would grow in such an exposed position) and, on the seaward side of the complex, a foghorn and its accompanying machinery. Water was originally collected off the flat roof of the accommodation block and stored in an underground tank.
Currently, the cottages around the lighthouse are used as holiday accommodation and can be rented out to interested parties.
