Pendeen Lighthouse

Pendeen Lighthouse

Pendeen Watch lighthouse
Cornwall
Location	Pendeen Cornwall England United Kingdom
Coordinates	50°09′54″N 5°40′17″W / 50.164983°N 5.671526°W / 50.164983; -5.671526Coordinates: 50°09′54″N 5°40′17″W / 50.164983°N 5.671526°W / 50.164983; -5.671526
Year first constructed	1900
Automated	1995
Construction	concrete rubblestone tower
Tower shape	cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / pattern	white tower
Height	17 metres (56 ft)
Focal height	59 metres (194 ft)
Original lens	1st order catadioptric fixed lens
Current lens	1st order dioptric, 2 groups of 4 panels, rotating lens
Intensity	18,700 candela
Range	16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi)
Characteristic	Fl (4) W 15s.
Fog signal	once every 20s.
Admiralty number	A5670
NGA number	6304
ARLHS number	ENG 101
Managing agent	Trinity House

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.

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.