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Farne Lighthouse is a lighthouse on the southern tip of Inner Farne (one of a group of islands off the coast of North Northumberland). Built in the early 19th century, it still functions as a lighthouse and is managed by Trinity House (England's general lighthouse authority). In 1910 it was one of the first Trinity House lighthouses to be automated.[3]

Farne Lighthouse

Farne Lighthouse
Location	Farne Islands Northumberland England
OS grid	NU2177735811
Coordinates	55°36′55.3″N 1°39′20.6″W
Tower
Constructed	1776 (first)
Construction	brick tower
Automated	1910
Height	13 m (43 ft)
Shape	cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings	white tower and lantern
Operator	National Trust (Farne Islands National Nature Reserve)[1][2]
Heritage	Grade II listed building
Light
First lit	1811 (current)
Focal height	27 m (89 ft)
Lens	3rd order catadioptric fixed lens
Light source	LED
Intensity	1,650 candela
Range	8 nmi (15 km; 9.2 mi)
Characteristic	Fl (2) WR15s.

History

Farne Lighthouse was one of a pair built on Inner Farne by the Corporation of Trinity House in 1811, both of which were designed by Daniel Alexander to replace an earlier coal-burning light which had been established on the island by Captain John Blackett in 1778.

Farne Lighthouse (originally named Farne High Lighthouse) is a cylindrical white tower, 13 m (43 ft) tall with a lighthouse keeper's cottage attached to its base. It was initially provided with a revolving array of seven Argand lamps and reflectors, which displayed a single white flash every 30 seconds. In 1910 it was converted to run automatically on acetylene (manufactured in an adjacent producer plant and controlled by a sun valve);[4] a new fixed third order Fresnel lens was installed in the lantern[5] and a red sector was added to the main light to indicate lines of approach that were hazardous for shipping.[6] (That same year saw the nearby Bamburgh Lighthouse established, with a sector light that worked in conjunction with the Inner Farne light.[6]) This arrangement largely remains in place, except that in 1996 the light was converted from acetylene to solar powered electric operation.[4]

The other lighthouse on the island (Farne Low Lighthouse) was an octagonal tower, 8 m (26 ft) tall, placed 150 m (490 ft) away from the first, close to the north-west tip of the island. It served to warn shipping of the Megstone, an isolated rocky island lying (in line with the two lights) just under a mile away to the north-west.[7] Whereas the High Light revolved, the Low Light showed a fixed beam from a single Argand lamp and reflector;[8] it was monitored by the keeper at the High Lighthouse, the light being made visible through a small aperture in the rear of the Low Lighthouse.[9]

After the High Light had been modified and automated in 1910, use of the Low Light was discontinued; before long it was demolished along with most of the keepers' accommodation (which was now no longer needed).[8]

Associated lighthouses

In 1811, at the same time as it was building the two lighthouses on Inner Farne, Trinity House also built a new lighthouse on one of the outer Farne Islands: Brownsman Island. This light was also designed by Daniel Alexander and was similar to the other two in appearance and layout but taller;[10] it too was equipped with a revolving set of lamps and reflectors.[11] It likewise replaced an earlier light built by Captain Blackett in 1778 (on nearby Staple Island, but subsequently relocated to Brownsman).[8] The 1811 installation on Brownsman Island was itself later moved to a more effective position on Longstone Island, further out to sea; as Longstone Lighthouse it too remains active as an aid to navigation for Trinity House.

Present day

The tower is 13 m (43 ft) tall with a range for the light of 8 nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi).[12] Farne Island Lighthouse was sold on 6 June 2005 to the National Trust for £132,000; nevertheless it remains an operational lighthouse, with relevant areas of the building having been leased back to Trinity House for a peppercorn rent.[13] In 2022 permission was given for the lamp to be replaced with an LED arrangement,[14] which will continue to function within the original lens.[5]

See also

• List of lighthouses in England

Notes

External links

• Trinity House page
• Lighthouse access & boat trips

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