Amlwch Lighthouse facts for kids
 |
|
| Amlwch Old Harbour light | |
 Amlwch Lighthouse
Amlwch Old Harbour Location in Wales
|
|
| Location | Amlwch Anglesey Wales |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53°24′55″N 4°19′59″W / 53.415323°N 4.332973°W |
| Year first constructed | 1793 (first) |
| Year first lit | 1817 (current) |
| Deactivated | 1972 |
| Construction | ashlar masonry |
| Tower shape | square tower |
| Markings / pattern | unpainted tower |
| Height | 11 metres (36 ft) |
| Range | 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi) |
| ARLHS number | WAL- 075 |
The Amlwch Lighthouse is a tall tower that helps ships find their way. It stands on the outer pier of Amlwch, a town at the northeast tip of Anglesey, Wales. The lighthouse you see today is a square tower built in 1853. It is actually the fourth lighthouse to stand in this exact spot.
The lower part of the lighthouse, about 4.6 meters (15 feet) high, is made of strong stone blocks called ashlar masonry. Even though it's old, it still looks great! The light at the very top, called the lantern, was added later.
History
The harbour at Amlwch was improved a long time ago. In 1743, two short piers were built. These piers had two octagonal houses with small lights on their roofs. These were the first lights to guide ships into the harbour. Old books described them as "small white houses displaying lights at night."
Later, in 1816, a longer outer pier was added. This new pier was about 46 meters (150 feet) long. It helped protect the ships even more. In 1817, a small lighthouse was built on this new pier. Its light was about 8.5 meters (28 feet) above the water at high tide. This lighthouse was later replaced by the one we see today.
Amlwch was once a very important port. It helped ship copper from Parys Mountain, which was one of the biggest copper mines in Europe. Because of its history with the copper trade, the Amlwch Lighthouse is part of a special heritage site. This site is important not just for Wales, but for the whole world.
