The Lizard Lighthouse

Specifications

Established 1619
Height Of Tower 19 Metres
Height Of Light Above Mean High Water 70 Metres
Automated Scheduled For 1998
Electrified 1924
Lamp 400 Watt Mbi
Optic 1 Kw Metal Halide
Character One White Flash Every 3 Seconds
Intensity 800,000 Candelas
Range Of Light 26 nautical miles
Fog Signal Character 1 Blasts Every 30 Seconds

Position 49° 57'.58 N 05° 12'.07 W

lizardlighthouse.co.uk
trinityhouse.co.uk
en.wikipedia.org
lookaroundcornwall.com

Beachy Head Lighthouse

Beachy Head Lighthouse
Originally uploaded by BigBean.

Yes, the water really was that colour.
Actually, maybe it was bluer.

Beachy Head is the name of the tallest chalk cliff on the south coast.

On a sunny day it's a very pretty spot.

More morosely, it's also a popular suicide spot, which is sad.
I guess if things are bad enough that you're going to jump off a cliff, this at least is a very pretty one...

Beachy Head is a chalk headland on the south coast of England, close to the town of Eastbourne in the county of East Sussex, immediately east of the Seven Sisters. The cliff there is the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain, rising to 162 m (530 ft) above sea level. The peak allows views of the south east coast from Dungeness to the east, to Selsey Bill in the west. Its height has also made it a notorious suicide spot.

The name Beachy Head appears as 'Beauchef' in 1274, and was 'Beaucheif' in 1317, becoming consistently Beachy Head by 1724, and has nothing to do with beach. Instead it is a corruption of the original French words meaning "beautiful headland".

In 1929 Eastbourne bought 4,000 acres (16 km2) of land surrounding Beachy Head to save it from development at a cost of about £100,000.

The prominence of Beachy Head has made it a landmark for sailors in the English Channel. It is noted as such in the sea shanty Spanish Ladies :

"The first land we sighted was called the Dodman,

Next Rame Head off Plymouth, off Portsmouth the Wight;

We sailed by Beachy, by Fairlight and Dover,

And then we bore up for the South Foreland light."

The ashes of German social scientist and philosopher Friedrich Engels, one of the fathers of communism were scattered off Beachy Head cliffs into the Channel, as he had requested.

Position 50° 44' 0 N 00° 14'.50 E

en.wikipedia.org

eastbourne.org

solarnavigator.net

Seven Sisters

DSC_02812

Coordinates: 53.35117°N 3.31911°W

DSC_02812
Originally uploaded by p_sarah40.

From East to West; New Brighton, The Wirral

From East to West; New Brighton, The Wirral
Originally uploaded by Corica.

After spending a evening's photography with Pixelda on the east coast it was back to solo photography on the west coast.

There was a Kite Festival on Saturday at New Brighton, so we went with the in-laws to The Wirral to see what was going on.

A throughly enjoyable afternoon made all the better for finding this lighthouse.

The Lens

The Lens
Originally uploaded by Steve Oliver.

The Lizard Lighthouse, on Lizard Point in Cornwall, United Kingdom, was built in 1619, but the inability to collect dues from passing ships forced its closure in 1623. In 1762, Trinity House built a two-tower, coal-fired station, which it leased for 61 years to a Thomas Fonnerau. The coal fires were replaced by Argand oil lights in 1812, and they in turn replaced in 1878 by generator-powered electricity.
In 1903, the two tower system was stopped, and a single flashing light used. This has a white flash every 3 seconds and a range of 25 miles. The fog horn gives 2 blasts every 60 second

Coordinates: 49°57′58″N 5°12′07″W

Newborough, Angelsey, Wales

by Fin Wright

Strumble

Strumble
Originally uploaded by Steve Oliver.

An interesting shot of the light on Strumble Head. Well, I like it anyway...

Strumble Head Lighthouse stands on Ynys Meicl (meaning St. Michael's Island), a rocky island at the northwest corner of Pencaer, five miles west of the town of Fishguard, in northern Pembrokeshire, Wales.

It was erected in 1908 to improve the safety of sea traffic, warning of rocky coast and strong currents that had claimed at least 60 ships in the 19th century alone and serving as a navigational aid.

Although Ynys Meicl is connected to the mainland via a narrow bridge, building on the island presented many difficulties usually associated with building lighthouses on more remote islands.

The light mechanism which enabled the light to flash four times every 15 seconds was originally clockwork and required winding every 12 hours. The lighthouse was electrified in 1965 and fully automated (unstaffed) in 1980.

Those familiar with transatlantic aviation may recognise the name from Strumble VOR.

Coordinates: 52.02904°N 5.07429°W

"Old photo revisited"

"This shot, is one of my faves, I have processed it several times, as it actually was, in Mono, and now this version. it's the Lightnouse at New Brighton in the UK. It is one of those old fashioned seaside towns, that does excellent chips, and candy floss, while you do battle with the sea gulls to keep your food. The main attraction for me was the Lighthouse though, and the long promenade. Also. watching the kids trying to catch things like crabs.

Really like the the vintage feel to the image, old postcard feel.

Love Suzi x"

New Brighton Lighthouse was originally known as Perch Rock Lighthouse, and construction began in 1827. Since 1 October 1973 it has not been in use as a lighthouse, having been superseded by modern navigational technology.

To the lighthouse

To the lighthouse
Originally uploaded by cattycamehome.

To the lighthouse

Come up to my lighthouse for I have something I wish to say
It can wait for a moment; well in fact
it can wait all day
I just wanted to bring you up here so you could have the chance to see
the beauty of this situation that
you could share with me

It may seem strange
to talk of love and then lighthouses
It's not strange
to me
Hey
All alone
you and I in our high tower
That's the way
to be

Some laugh at my lighthouse they say it's just an ivory tower
But I don't mind because I know
their envy grows by the hour
See I have a purpose up here to guide the ships upon their way
All this is mine; it could be yours too
what do you say?

My Lighthouse - Pulp

The 17th century Beacon Tower looks to the casual onlooker like an original lighthouse structure and indeed some claim that that is what it was, built in 1673 with the permission of Charles II, who also gave permission for the collection of dues from passing ships. More credibly it is thought to be simply a beacon tower, the iron grill at the top being for bushes and wood to burn as warning at times of wartime invasion.  What is believed to be the original lighthouse was built in 1806 by a local customs officer to warn of the dangers of the rocky coast, some 174 ships having foundered off the coast in the previous 36 years. The present lighthouse, a towering 92’ high and with over 3.5 million candle power is visible from the sea for some 21 miles.
sea also:

Happisburgh Lighthouse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Happisburgh Lighthouse
Location:	Happisburgh, Norfolk, England
Coordinates WGS-84 (GPS)	52°49.17′N 01°32.32′E / 52.8195°N 1.53867°E / 52.8195; 1.53867
Year first lit:	1791
Automated:	1929
Construction:	Masonry
Tower shape:	round
Height:	26 m (85 ft)
Focal Height:	15 m
Current lens:	Catadioptric Fixed Lens
Range:	14 nm (26 km)
Characteristic:	White group flashing 3 times every 30 seconds

Happisburgh Lighthouse is the oldest working light in East Anglia, and the only independently run lighthouse in Great Britain.

Built in 1790, orginally one of a pair - the tower is 85ft tall and the lantern is 134ft above sea level. The 'low light' which was discontinued in 1883 was 20ft lower and the pair formed leading lights marking safe passage around the southern end of the treacherous Haisborogh Sands.

Today the lighthouse is painted white with three red bands, and has a light charcteristic of Fl (3) W 30s (3 white flashes, repeated every 30secs) with a range of 18 miles.

Light House Media Centre

Light House aims to increase the enjoyment and understanding of technologically - based media, in particular film, video, photography and creative media and to emphasise their importance to the cultural, social and economic life of Wolverhampton, the West Midlands and further afield.

HISTORY

The formal opening of Light House took place on 16 March 1987 by the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Bishan Dass, although activities had already taken place since the August of 1986. Light House was housed in accommodation with the Central Art Gallery, there were only three members of staff and it was a joint project of the Council’s Leisure Services and Wolverhampton Polytechnic (now the University of Wolverhampton). The programme guide for that period included, amongst other activities, courses in video production, seasons of science fiction films, an exhibition India and Independence marking the 40th anniversary of India’s freedom from British rule and a conference about Black filmmaking.

Today Light House inhabits larger, partly-purpose-built accommodation, is an independent company and employs the equivalent of over 30 full time staff. There are still production courses, new exhibitions, films, educational activities, conferences and events. In addition, there are two major annual festivals and a myriad of activities that develop and support the growing creative industries in the City and region. The emphasis is still on giving opportunities for active involvement for everyone. Light House has held to its original mission, increasing the enjoyment and understanding of different media forms and using them for the benefit of the people of Wolverhampton and beyond. Along the way there has been support and encouragement from very many individuals and organisations. With their continued support, Light House will play an increasingly important part in the social, cultural and economic life of the City and the wider region into the future.

LIGHT HOUSE FUNDERS

A non-profit making organisation Light House is funded and supported by Wolverhampton City Council, Learning Skills Council, Arts Council West Midlands, UK Film Council, Screen West Midlands, Advantage West Midlands, Skillset and the University of Wolverhampton.

The Needles

The Needles is a row of three distinctive stacks of chalk that rise out of the sea off the western extremity of the Isle of Wight, England, close to Alum Bay. A lighthouse designed by Scottish civil engineer James Walker has stood at the western end of the formation since 1859.^[3]

The formation takes its name from the former fourth^[4] needle-shaped pillar called Lot's Wife that used to stand in its midst until it collapsed in a storm in 1764.^[5][6][7] The remaining rocks are all short and squat and not at all needle-like, but the name has stuck.

The Needles were featured on the 2005 TV programme Seven Natural Wonders as one of the wonders of the South.

from en.wikipedia.org

Position 50° 39'.70 N O1° 35,42 W

The Needles Photography Don French
© Isle of Wight Tourism

Christmas 1993 Needles Lighthouse

Belle Tout lighthouse

The Belle Tout lighthouse (also spelled Belle Toute lighthouse) is a decommissioned lighthouse and famous British landmark located at Beachy Head, East Sussex. It has been called "Britain's most famous inhabited lighthouse" because of its striking location and use in film and television.^[1] In 1999, the Grade II listed building was famously moved in one piece to prevent it from succumbing to coastal erosion.

Beachy Head saw numerous shipwrecks in the 17th and early 18th centuries and a petition to erect a lighthouse started around 1691.^[2] The calls were ignored for over 100 years until The Thames, an East Indiaman, crashed into the rocks of Beachy Head. The petition gained momentum with the support of a Captain of the Royal Navy and Trinity House, the official lighthouse authority, agreed to attend to the matter.^[3] Having witnessed the incident himself, John 'Mad Jack' Fuller, MP for Sussex, used his influence and some of his personal wealth to fund the lighthouse construction.^[4]

The first Belle Tout lighthouse was a temporary wooden structure that started service on 1 October 1828. The construction of the permanent granite lighthouse began in 1829 and it became operational on 11 October 1834. Its use of 30 oil lamps meant that the lighthouse would require 2 gallons of oil every hour.^[3]

Coordinates: 50°44′18″N 0°12′52″E / 50.7382°N 0.2145°E

from en.wikipedia

The History of Belle Toute Lighthouse

• Circa 1691 petitions for a lighthouse were made due to the number of shipwrecks and sailors losing their lives at the hands of this dangerous stretch of coastline.
  
• In 1828 as a continuing result of many shipwrecks, a wooden lighthouse was built on the top of the cliffs at Beachy Head. So successful was this that the decision was made to build a permanent lighthouse.
  
• Belle Toute was built in 1832 and the location of the lighthouse was carefully planned so that the light was visible for 20 miles out to sea and that the light would be obscured by the edge of the cliff if sailors were too close to the shore.
  
• Over the years erosion of the cliff reduced the effectiveness of the lighthouse and in 1902 Belle Toute was decommissioned when the new lighthouse built at the base of the cliffs came into service.
  
• In 1903 it was sold by Trinity House and changed hands a number of times.
  

• In 1923 it was bought by a surgeon, Sir James Purves-Stewart.
  
• During the second world war with its owners being evacuated, Belle Toute was damaged due to shelling by Canadian Troops using it as target practice.
  
• In 1948 Sir James offered the building to the council and eventually they took it over due to its historical significance.
  
• In 1956 Belle Toute was leased out to Dr Edward Revill Cullinan who carried out works on the building and installed modern features such as septic tank, mains electricity and water.
  
• In 1962 the lease was sold and changed hands a number of times.
  
• In 1986 it was bought by the BBC who used it in the making of Fay Weldon’s “Life and Loves of a She-Devil”.
  
• In 1996 it was bought by Mark and Louise Roberts to use as a family home.
  
• In 1999, due to continuing erosion threatening the future of the building the lighthouse was moved 17 metres (56 feet) back from the edge of the cliff by the impressing engineering work of Abbey Pynford.
  
• In 2007 the Roberts' have put Belle Toute up for sale with the guide price of £850,000.
  
• In 2007 the Belle Toute Lighthouse Preservation Trust has been formed to raise enough money to purchase the lighthouse to open it to the public, provide bed and breakfast accommodation and maintain it for future generations of visitors to enjoy.
  
• In April 2008 Belle Toute was purchased by the Belle Toute Lighthouse Company Limited with the intention of opening it to the public as a bed & breakfast and tourist centre.
  
• In May 2008 the Belle Toute Lighthouse Preservation Trust wound-up although the Belle Toute Lighthouse Preservation Society has been formed to allow the previous members retain a watchful interest over this magnificent building. The website will be kept updated as an information resource.

*Please note: Previously we estimated the erosion based on .5m to 1m per year suggesting that the lighthouse would need to be moved in 17 to 34 years. This was based on our own calculations during 1890 and 1997, internet research and taking into account global warming. An erosion report that has come to our attention actually states that the erosion rate is more likely to be 0.03m to 0.27m per year depending on whether it is an 'active' or 'passive' recession period. We are working closely with Brighton University and hope to bring you some substantiated figures that suggest the erosion rate is .6m per year. This would suggest at a current distance of 18.2m that the lighthouse will need moving again in just under 30 years. More likely in around 24 years as it would be necessary to ensure access to the front of the tower by which time there should be 3.6m distance from the cliff edge.

It is important to recognise that averages are based on the middle value of a series of figures, although these figures are based on what has happened rather than what yet will happen. For example if within 100 years there was 50m of cliff that disappeared then the average is .5m per year, however, we know that falls can precede the average, i.e. that in 10 years there might be a cliff fall of just 1mm but in the next 10 years there might as much as 9m go, yet over the 20 year period the average might still only be .5m. Therefore it is very difficult to say when the next fall will be although it could be substantially larger than what is expected to be the average.

from www.belletoute.org.uk

Google Map

Aerial View of The Needles and Lighthouse at the Isle of Wight

AAFB001046| Value RM| © Jason Hawkes/CORBIS

Aerial View of The Needles and Lighthouse at the Isle of Wight

Image:		© Jason Hawkes/CORBIS
Collection:		Corbis Edge Value RM
Photographer:		Jason Hawkes
Date Photographed:		ca. 2000-2002
Location Information:		Isle of Wight, England, UK

Faro

by .hope.
Faro

Originally uploaded by .hope..

Bishop Rock (Cornish: Men an Eskob) is a small rock at the westernmost tip of the Isles of Scilly ( [show location on an interactive map] 49°52′24″N 06°26′41″W / 49.87333, -6.44472), known for its lighthouse, and listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest island with a building on it in the world.[citation needed]

Containing room for nothing more than the uninhabited 45 metre tall lighthouse, the rock acts as the barrier between Great Britain and the Atlantic Ocean.[citation needed] The original lighthouse was begun in 1847, but was washed away before it could be completed. The present building was completed in 1858 and was first lit on 1 September of that year.

Bishop Rock is also the eastern end of the North Atlantic shipping route used by ocean liners in the first half of the 20th century, the western end being the entrance to Lower New York Bay. The ship with the fastest time (in either direction) between a line of longitude running through Bishop Rock and the end point at the approach to New York Harbor (first Sandy Hook, New Jersey and later Ambrose Light) claimed the "Blue Riband" for the fastest crossing. (more)

Gibbs Light (Bermuda)

Gibbs Light (Bermuda)
Originally uploaded by coolskipper.

Model of the lighthouse

Model
Originally uploaded by Paranoidfromsuffolk.

St. mary's at sunset
Originally uploaded by Paranoidfromsuffolk.

Joshua climbs to the top
Originally uploaded by Paranoidfromsuffolk.

St Mary's lighthouse
Originally uploaded by Paranoidfromsuffolk.

St. Mary's Lighthouse is on the tiny St. Mary's Island, just north of Whitley Bay on the coast of North East England. The small rocky tidal island is linked to the mainland by a short concrete causeway which is submerged at periods of high tide.

While it no longer functions as a working lighthouse, it is easily accessible (when the tide is out) and is open to visitors and has a small museum, a visitor's centre, and a cafe.

The lighthouse and adjacent keepers' cottages were built in 1898 by the John Miller company of Tynemouth, using 645 blocks of stone and 750,000 bricks. It was built on the site of a monastery where a small sanctuary light would have acted as a guide to passing ships. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1984.