Farne Island Lighthouse
| Farne Lighthouse | |||
| Inner Farne | |||
 Farne Island Lighthouse | |||
| Location | |||
| Grid reference: | NU217357 | ||
| Location: | 55°36’55"N, 1°39’21"W | ||
| Characteristics | |||
| Height: | 43 feet | ||
| Tower shape: | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern | ||
| Tower marking: | white tower | ||
| Light: | Fl (2) WR15s | ||
| Intensity: | white: 1,650 candela red: 208 candela | ||
| Focal height: | 89 feet | ||
| Range: | white: 10 nautical miles red: 7 nautical miles | ||
| Admiralty No.: | A2812 | ||
| History | |||
| Built 1811 | |||
| First lit: | 1811 | ||
| Information | |||
| Owned by: | Trinity House | ||
| Website: | Farne Island Lighthouse | ||
Farne Island Lighthouse stands on Inner Farne, amongst the Farne Islands, overlooking the busy Inner Sound. The current lighthouse was built in 1811 to the design of Daniel Alexander. It is maintained by Trinity House.
The lighthouse is a cylindrical white tower with lighthouse keepers' cottages to the rear. It was converted to solar powered operation in 1996.[1]
The tower is 43 feet tall with a range for the white light of 10 nautical miles and for the red 7 nautical miles.
History
In 1673, Sir John Clayton erected a tower on the Farne Islands as part of his comprehensive scheme for lights on the east coast. However the Newcastle merchants refused to pay him any dues for its upkeep and the fire was never kindled. Proposals were again made in 1727 by coastal traders in the area, but little was done for another 50 years.
In 1776 an agreement was made between Trinity House and Mr J Blackett for the latter to build two lighthouses at his own expense. On 1 December 1778 two lighthouses exhibited lights, one on Farne Island and the other on the southern end of Staple Island. The Staples Island light was blown down in 1784 and rebuilt, possibly on Brownsman’s Island, the rebuilt tower was knocked down by heavy seas in 1800 and at that time was definitely rebuilt on Brownsman’s Island.
In 1809 the two towers, both coal lights, were decaying and arrangements were made for Trinity House to take then over and install new lights.
Trinity House commissioned Daniel Alexander to design a new lighthouse to stand on Inner Farne, and this, the current lighthouse, was completed in 1811.
The lighthouse is now automatic and has no resident keepers, although in former years it did. The lighthouse is now maintained by Trinity House by their local lighthouse attendant, who also provides guided tours inside the lighthouse.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Farne Island Lighthouse) |
References
- ↑ "Farne Lighthouse". Trinity House. Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130310222521/http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/lighthouses/lighthouse_list/farne.html.
| Lighthouses of Trinity House |
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Great Britain: |
| Channel Islands and Gibraltar: Casquets • Europa Point • Les Hanois • Sark |