Longstone Lighthouse

For other places with the same name, see Longstone.

Longstone Lighthouse

Location	Longstone rock, Farne Islands, England
Coordinates
Year first lit	1826
Automated	1990
Foundation	Stone and rock
Construction	Stone
Tower shape	Circular Conical Cylinder
Markings / pattern	Red with horizontal central White Stripe
Height	26 m (85 ft)
Focal height	23 m (75 ft)
Current lens	Small 3rd Order Catadioptric Twin Spectacle Lens
Intensity	640,000 Candela
Range	24 nmi (44 km)
Characteristic	1 White Flash Every 20 Seconds
ARLHS number	ENG 070

Longstone Lighthouse was built and designed by Joseph Nelson in 1826, and was originally called the Outer Farne lighthouse.

The site had a long history of need for a light. In the late 17th century Sir John Clayton, and later, in 1755, Captain J. Blackhead, requested a light for the island. Both were turned down because the authorities, the Elder Brethren of Trinity House, were unable to persuade affected parties to contribute to the maintenance of the light.

In the mid-1820s the welfare of shipping won over and it was agreed that a lighthouse be constructed. The lighthouse originally used Argand lamps, but in 1952 was finally electrified, and in 1990 became fully automated.

The lighthouse is known for the 1838 wreck of the Forfarshire and the role of Grace Darling, the lighthouse keeper's daughter, in rescuing survivors.

Tours of the lighthouse, which is accessible by boat, are operated by The Golden Gate Boat Trip Company under license from Trinity House.

Optic

File:Thinktank - Longstone Lighthouse lens.jpg

The optic at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum

The lighthouse used to have an optic on top of it made by the Chance Brothers of Smethwick. It was made in 1873 and was used for almost 80 years. The optic is a Fresnel lens, used to increase the transmission of light from a lighthouse. The optic is now on display at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum.

External links

• Trinity House – Longstone profile