Lizard Lighthouse facts for kids

The Lizard Lighthouse is a famous lighthouse located at Lizard Point, Cornwall, England. Its main job is to help ships find their way safely through the busy English Channel. For many people coming back to England, this lighthouse was a friendly light, guiding them home. On a clear night, its bright light could be seen from about 160 kilometers (100 miles) away!

History of the Lizard Lighthouse

Early Lights and Challenges

The very first light at Lizard Point was shown in 1619. Sir Christopher Dimaline worked hard to build it. However, this early lighthouse didn't last long. By 1630, the light was put out and the tower was taken down. This happened because it was hard to find enough money to keep it running and maintained.

Building the Current Lighthouse

The lighthouse you see today was built in 1751. It was put up by the landowner, Thomas Fonnereau. This new lighthouse had two towers. Between the towers were small cottages for the lighthouse keepers. Each tower had a special basket on top, called a brazier, where coal was burned to create light.

In 1771, a group called Trinity House took over the lighthouse. They are still in charge of lighthouses in England today.

Upgrades and New Technology

In 1812, the old coal burners were replaced. New Argand lamps and reflectors were installed. These were much more efficient. Each tower got 19 lamps and reflectors that stayed in a fixed position.

By 1873, these lamps were still in use. But many shipwrecks were still happening near Lizard Point. So, a big decision was made: the lights needed a major upgrade. They also decided to add a fog signal to help ships in bad weather.

Electric Power and Fog Signals

Big changes happened in 1874. An engine room was built to create electricity. This power was used for the lights and for a loud fog siren. The engine room had three special engines. These engines powered machines called Siemens dynamo-electric machines. These machines then powered bright arc lamps in each tower. Caloric engines were used because there wasn't much fresh water nearby for steam engines.

At the same time, new lenses were installed. These were medium-sized catadioptric optics designed by John Hopkinson. The fog siren started working in January 1878. It made one loud blast every five minutes. The sound came from a 4.5-meter (15-foot) horn on the engine house roof. This horn could be moved to face the wind. The new electric lights first shone on March 29, 1878.

In 1885, the Siemens machines were replaced. More powerful de Méritens magneto-electric generators were put in.

Further Modernization

More changes came in 1903. A large, rotating lens was put into the eastern tower. This new lens was very powerful. It could be seen from 64 to 80 kilometers (40 to 50 miles) away! Because of this, the western tower's light and lantern were removed.

In 1908, new sirens were installed. They sounded through two "trumpets" on the engine house roof. Also, three Hornsby oil engines replaced the older caloric engines. Soon after, an underwater bell was set up two miles south of the Lizard. It was controlled from the lighthouse using an electric cable.

Switch to Electric Lamps

A carbon arc lamp provided the light until 1926. Then, a modern electric filament lamp took its place. This change meant fewer people were needed to run the lighthouse. The staff went from five keepers down to three.

The new lighting system was very smart. It could switch to a backup electric lamp or an emergency gas lamp if the main bulb or power failed. The clockwork system that rotated the lenses also got an automatic winding device. Old machines called transformers were added. This allowed the 40-year-old magnetos and Hornsby engines to keep working.

Connecting to Mains Power

The engines and generators were used daily until 1950. That's when the lighthouse finally got connected to the main electricity supply. In 1950, four Gardner diesel engines were installed. Three of them ran compressors for the fog signal. The fourth was connected to generators. These generators would provide power if the main electricity went out.

In March 1954, the lighthouse keepers had to put out a fire. It started in the engine's exhaust pits. In 1972, the old clockwork system that turned the light was replaced with an electric motor.

Automation and Today

In 1998, the Lizard Lighthouse became fully automated. This meant that lighthouse keepers were no longer needed to live and work there. The loud fog horn was also turned off in 1998. It was replaced with an automatic electronic fog signal. At that time, it was the last compressed-air fog signal still used in the United Kingdom. As of 2022, the rotating light is still working and guiding ships.

Lighthouse Heritage Centre

The Lizard Lighthouse Heritage Centre opened in 2009. It received money from the Heritage Lottery Fund to help set it up. The center is located in the old engine room of the lighthouse. You can still see some of the original engines there!

The center has fun, interactive displays. They teach you about the lighthouse's long history. You can also learn what life was like for a lighthouse keeper. The center also explains how lighthouses help keep people safe at sea. Today, some of the buildings around the lighthouse are used as holiday cottages.

Original Machinery at the Centre

One of the lighthouse's old magneto-electric generators is now in a museum. You can see it at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum. The other generator is still right where it was in the engine house. It has a special plate that says:

L'ÉLECTRICITÉ
MÉDAILLE D'OR
Exposition d'Électricité Paris 1881
No. 3 L
A de MÉRITENS, 44 rue Boursault
PARIS
Bté. s.g.d.g. en France & à l'Étranger

Even after the compressed-air foghorn was stopped, its machinery stayed in place. Sometimes, it was even sounded for special events. Before the Heritage Centre opened, two of the four Gardner engines were moved. They are now at the Internal Fire Museum of Power in Wales. The other two compressor sets are still in the engine room at the lighthouse.

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See also

In Spanish: Faro Lizard para niños

• List of lighthouses in England