Peninnis Lighthouse is situated on
Peninnis Head
Peninnis Head ( kw, Penn Enys, meaning ''Island Head'') is the southernmost point of St Mary's, Isles of Scilly. The headland is within the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and part of the Heritage Coast. It is also a Geologi ...
,
St Mary's,
Isles of Scilly.
History
The light was built to replace the lighthouse in the centre of the island of
St Agnes and helps vessels to enter
Hugh Town
Hugh Town ( kw, Treworenys or ) is the largest settlement on the Isles of Scilly and its administrative centre. The town is situated on the island of St Mary's, the largest and most populous island in the archipelago, and is located on a narrow ...
harbour, via St Mary's Sound. It was first lit in 1911, is circular, tall and consists of a black steel open lattice foundation, white gallery and black–domed top.
Initially, the lamp used was an
incandescent burner which was powered by
oil gas; the fuel was kept on site in four pressurised tanks (with a total capacity of 700 cubic feet), which the local Trinity House vessel would keep replenished. It was classed as a 'semi-watched' light (i.e. it did not require the full-time attendance of a keeper). The rotating
third-order optic was driven by clockwork; it displayed a white flash every 20 seconds and its beam had a range of .
In 1922 the lighthouse was converted to automatic
acetylene operation. (Acetylene was used to drive the rotating optic as well as fuelling the lamp).
It was converted to electricity in 1992.
In late 2011, the year of its centenary, the lighthouse was updated, and at the same time downgraded (its visible range being reduced from 17 to in accordance with the Trinity House 2010 Aids to Navigation review).
A single-tier
LED lantern, mounted on the exterior rail of the structure, now provides the light; within the lantern the old revolving lens still remains ''in situ'', but it is no longer in use.
See also
*
List of lighthouses in England
This is a list of lighthouses in England. It includes lighthouses which are no longer in use as a light but are still standing. It also includes some of the harbour and pier-head lights around the country.
Details of several lighthouses and li ...
References
External links
Peninnis Lighthouse at Trinity HouseWorldwide Lighthouses
Lighthouses completed in 1911
Lighthouses in the Isles of Scilly
1911 establishments in England
Grade II listed lighthouses
Grade II listed buildings in Cornwall
St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
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