U.S. Society ~ of the

Pendeen Lighthouse

( , St Just in , )

History

For nearly 100 years has been guiding passing vessels and warning of the dangerous waters around Pendeen Watch.

From the coast runs NE by E towards the Wra, or Three Stone Oar, off Pendeen. From here the inhospitable shore continues for a further eight miles or so to the Western entrance of St. Ives Bay, the principal feature here being the Gurnards Head, on which many ships have come to grief.

Until 1891 maritime safety off Pendeen depended more on activity after a wreck rather than effective prevention, the ʺAdmiralty Sailing Directionsʺ for that year being only able to report a ʺCoastguard Station where a rocket apparatus is keptʺ. The high cliffs along this sector of coastline prevented passing vessels from catching sight of either to the East or the Longships to the West; and so numbers of them, unable to ascertain their position, were lost, particularly on the groups of A NON-PROFIT HISTORICAL & EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY U.S. Lighthouse Society ~ Lighthouses of the United Kingdom sunken and exposed rocks near Pendeen Watch. became increasingly concerned about this state of affairs as the nineteenth century drew to its close, and decided to erect a lighthouse and fog signal at Pendeen. Designs for the building were prepared by Sir Thomas Matthews, the Trinity House Engineer, their construction being undertaken by Arthur Carkeek, of , with Messrs. Chance, of supplying the lantern.

The buildings occupy a large area and before work could begin the cap of the Point had to be removed and the whole headland flattened, which necessitated the building of a huge retaining wall on the seaward side. By the beginning of 1900, Carkeeks men had only reached the half‐way mark although the lantern makers were ready to go ahead. Work thereafter progressed more rapidly and the light was commissioned on September 26th 1900.

Within the tower itself are two rooms, one over the other, and above them the lantern which originally contained a five‐wick , to which oil was pumped from the room below. This lamp was replaced by an electric one in 1926 and the oil lamp is now on display at the Trinity House National Lighthouse Centre in . Around the lamp revolves an apparatus containing the lenses. This optic is very heavy, weighing 2½ tons, but as it floats in a trough containing ¾of a ton of mercury it can be set in motion by the merest touch.

Pendeen Lighthouse was automated in 1995 with the keepers leaving the station on 3rd May. The original optic has been retained but a new lamp plinth with two position lamp changer has been installed along with an emergency light and a new fog signal with fog detector. The lighthouse is now monitored and controlled via a telemetry link from the Trinity House Operations and Planning Centre at .

Specifications

Established 1900

Height Of Tower 17 Metres

Height Of Light Above Mean 59 Metres High Water

Automated 1995

Electrified

Lamp 35 Watt Mbi

A NON-PROFIT HISTORICAL & EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY U.S. Lighthouse Society ~ Lighthouses of the United Kingdom

Optic 1st Order Dioptric, 2 Groups Of 4 Panels

Optic 1st Order Catadioptric Fixed Lens

Character White Group Flashing 4 Times Every 15 Seconds (Light 5 Seconds, Eclipse 5 Seconds)

Intensity 150,000 Candela

Range Of Light 16 nautical miles

Fog Signal Character Sounds Once Every 20 Seconds

Holiday Cottages

Pendeen Lighthouse lies 6 miles north of Landʹs End and 2 miles from St Just.

The site comprises a terrace of 4 cottages, 2 of which are available for self catering holidays ‐ Solebay and Argus.

Book This Cottage

Bookings are handled by Rural Retreats Tel: +44 (0) 1386 701 177 www.ruralretreats.co.uk

A NON-PROFIT HISTORICAL & EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY