Lundy South Lighthouse

South Lighthouse
Devon
The South Lighthouse
Location
Grid reference:	SS14404366
Location:	51°9’43"N, 4°39’21"W
Characteristics
Height:	152 feet
History
	Built 1897
Information
Owned by:	Trinity House

The South Lighthouse was built in 1897, as was the North Lighthouse, the two standing at the extremities of the island to replace the Old Light on Beacon Hill. Designed by Sir Thomas Matthews, both lighthouses are painted white and are run and maintained by Trinity House.

The South Lighthouse is set in a spacious site in contrast to the North Light's rock platform. The tower of the South Light 152 feet tall. When built, equipment from the old Lundy Lighthouse (including the 1857 optic) was reused in this tower, where it remained in use until 1962. It displayed a single flash every 30 seconds.

In contrast to the North, the South lighthouse sounded an explosive fog signal; initially discharged manually from the lantern gallery, in 1908 a small building was constructed (where there is now a helicopter pad) containing an automated apparatus provided by the Clockwork Explosive Fog Signal Company of London. It remained in use until 1964 when it was replaced by a set of 'supertyfon' air horns, eight in number, placed in a housing on top of the lantern. Thirty years later, just prior to the automation of the South light, the supertyfon was itself replaced by an electric emitter, installed alongside it.

The South lighthouse has a focal height of 174 feet and displays a quick white flash every 5 seconds. It can be seen as a small white dot from Hartland Point, eleven miles to the south-east. It was automated and converted to solar power in 1994.

A small (fourth-order) optic, in use since 1962, was removed at the time of automation; (in 2001 it was installed in Dungeness Lighthouse where it remains in use). In its place in the lantern room there is now a smaller rotating beacon manufactured by the Dutch firm Orga.

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Lundy South Lighthouse)