Farne Lighthouse
 Farne Lighthouse | |
 | |
| Location | Farne Islands Northumberland England |
|---|---|
| OS grid | NU2177735811 |
| Coordinates | 55°36′55.3″N 1°39′20.6″W / 55.615361°N 1.655722°W / 55.615361; -1.655722 |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1776 (first) |
| Construction | brick tower |
| Automated | 1910 |
| Height | 13 m (43 ft) |
| Shape | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings | white tower and lantern |
| Operator | National Trust (Farne Islands National Nature Reserve)[1][2] |
| Heritage | Grade II listed building |
| Light | |
| First lit | 1811 (current) |
| Focal height | 27 m (89 ft) |
| Lens | 3rd order catadioptric fixed lens |
| Light source | LED |
| Intensity | 1,650 candela |
| Range | 8 nmi (15 km; 9.2 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl (2) WR15s. |
Farne Lighthouse is a lighthouse on the southern tip of Inner Farne (one of a group of islands off the coast of North Northumberland). Built in the early 19th century, it still functions as a lighthouse and is managed by Trinity House (England's general lighthouse authority). In 1910 it was one of the first Trinity House lighthouses to be automated.[3]
History
Farne Lighthouse was one of a pair built on Inner Farne by the Corporation of Trinity House in 1811, both of which were designed by Daniel Alexander to replace an earlier coal-burning light which had been established on the island by Captain John Blackett in 1778.
Farne Lighthouse (originally named Farne High Lighthouse) is a cylindrical white tower, 13 m (43 ft) tall with a lighthouse keeper's cottage attached to its base. It was initially provided with a revolving array of seven Argand lamps and reflectors, which displayed a single white flash every 30 seconds. In 1910 it was converted to run automatically on acetylene (manufactured in an adjacent producer plant and controlled by a sun valve);[4] a new fixed third order Fresnel lens was installed in the lantern[5] and a red sector was added to the main light to indicate lines of approach that were hazardous for shipping.[6] (That same year saw the nearby Bamburgh Lighthouse established, with a sector light that worked in conjunction with the Inner Farne light.[6]) This arrangement largely remains in place, except that in 1996 the light was converted from acetylene to solar powered electric operation.[4]
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The other lighthouse on the island (Farne Low Lighthouse) was an octagonal tower, 8 m (26 ft) tall, placed 150 m (490 ft) away from the first, close to the north-west tip of the island. It served to warn shipping of the Megstone, an isolated rocky island lying (in line with the two lights) just under a mile away to the north-west.[7] Whereas the High Light revolved, the Low Light showed a fixed beam from a single Argand lamp and reflector;[8] it was monitored by the keeper at the High Lighthouse, the light being made visible through a small aperture in the rear of the Low Lighthouse.[9]
After the High Light had been modified and automated in 1910, use of the Low Light was discontinued; before long it was demolished along with most of the keepers' accommodation (which was now no longer needed).[8]
Associated lighthouses
In 1811, at the same time as it was building the two lighthouses on Inner Farne, Trinity House also built a new lighthouse on one of the outer Farne Islands: Brownsman Island. This light was also designed by Daniel Alexander and was similar to the other two in appearance and layout but taller;[10] it too was equipped with a revolving set of lamps and reflectors.[11] It likewise replaced an earlier light built by Captain Blackett in 1778 (on nearby Staple Island, but subsequently relocated to Brownsman).[8] The 1811 installation on Brownsman Island was itself later moved to a more effective position on Longstone Island, further out to sea; like Longstone Lighthouse, it too remains active as an aid to navigation for Trinity House.
Present day
The tower is 13 m (43 ft) tall with a range for the light of 8 nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi).[12] Farne Island Lighthouse was sold on 6 June 2005 to the National Trust for £132,000; nevertheless it remains an operational lighthouse, with relevant areas of the building having been leased back to Trinity House for a peppercorn rent.[13] In 2022 permission was given for the lamp to be replaced with an LED arrangement,[14] which will continue to function within the original lens.[5]
See also
Notes
- ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Northeastern England". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ^ Farne Island Lighthouse Trinity House. Retrieved 1 May 2016
- ^ Jones, Robin (2014). Lighthouses of the North East Coast. Wellington, Somerset: Halsgrove. p. 28.
- ^ a b "Farne Lighthouse". Trinity House. Archived from the original on 10 March 2013.
- ^ a b "Inner Farne Lighthouse - DAS incorporating Heritage Report (Nov. 2021)" (PDF). Northumberland County Council. Trinity House. Retrieved 9 May 2022.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "Farne Lighthouse". Worldwide Lighthouses. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "Lighthouses on the Farne Islands". National Trust. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ a b c Middleton, Penny. "Historic Environment Survey for the National Trust: The Farne Islands" (PDF). Archaeo-Environment Ltd. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ Elliot, George H. (1875). European Light-House Systems. London: Lockwood & co. p. 130. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- ^ Original design: elevation.
- ^ Original design: section.
- ^ "Notice to Mariners, 02/02/2022: 9/2022 Inner Farne Lighthouse". Trinity House. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- ^ "The General Lighthouse Fund 2004-2005" (PDF). The Stationery Office. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
- ^ Smith, Ian (17 February 2022). "Northumberland lighthouse works get the green light". Northumberland Gazette. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
External links
- Trinity House page
- Lighthouse access & boat trips
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