Anvil Point Lighthouse facts for kids
| Location | Swanage Dorset England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 50°35′30.8″N 1°57′35.3″W / 50.591889°N 1.959806°W |
| Year first constructed | 1881 |
| Automated | 1991 |
| Construction | stone tower |
| Tower shape | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | white tower and lantern |
| Height | 12 m (39 ft) |
| Focal height | 45 m (148 ft) |
| Original lens | 250mm 6 panel fourth order rotating optic (original), 1 single tier LED lantern (current) |
| Intensity | 1,080 candela |
| Range | 9 nmi (17 km; 10 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 10s. |
| Fog signal | deactivated |
The Anvil Point Lighthouse is a lighthouse that works all by itself. It is located in Durlston Country Park near Swanage in Dorset, England. A group called Trinity House owns it. You can even stay in its old keeper's cottages as holiday homes!
The lighthouse, its living quarters, and other buildings are special. They are protected as a Grade II Listed Building. This means they are important for their history.
Contents
History of the Lighthouse
The Anvil Point Lighthouse was built from local stone. It was finished in 1881. A man named Joseph Chamberlain officially opened it. He was a very important government official at the time.
The lighthouse tower stands 12 metres (about 39 feet) tall. The light itself is 45 metres (about 148 feet) above the sea. Its job is to guide ships sailing along the English Channel coast.
How the Light Worked
When it was first built, the lighthouse used a special oil lamp. This lamp had many wicks. It shone through a huge, spinning lens. This lens was made by a company called Chance Brothers. It was a new design for lighthouse lenses. It stood over 6 feet tall! This special lens helped the light shine very far.
The lamp itself was also a new design. It was created by James Nicholas Douglass. This type of lamp was later used in many other big lighthouses.
Fog Signals and Changes
In February 1894, a loud foghorn was added. It used explosions to make a sound. When it was foggy, it would sound every ten minutes. Later, this changed to every five minutes.
In the early 1900s, the oil lamp was replaced. A new lamp that used paraffin (like kerosene) was installed.
Modern Updates
The lighthouse got a big upgrade in 1960. It was connected to electricity! A new electric lamp replaced the old paraffin one. At the same time, a smaller lens took its place. The original giant lens was sent to the Science Museum in London.
In 1960, the explosive foghorn was also replaced. A new electric foghorn was installed. It had thirty speakers to make a loud sound. However, this foghorn was stopped in 1988.
Automation
On May 31, 1991, the Anvil Point Lighthouse started working completely by itself. It is now watched and controlled from a special centre. This centre is run by Trinity House in Harwich.
The lighthouse used to have a very bright lamp. It could shine for about 19 nautical miles. But in 2010, its range was shortened to 9 nautical miles. This was after a review of how navigation aids work.
In 2012, a new LED lamp was put in. This LED lamp is now the main light. It still flashes white every 10 seconds, just like before. The old spinning lens is still inside the tower, but it's not used anymore.
See also
- List of lighthouses in England
