Longstone Lighthouse facts for kids
| Location | Longstone Rock Farne Islands Northumberland Coast England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 55°38′38″N 1°36′39″W / 55.643836°N 1.610836°W |
| Year first constructed | 1826 |
| Automated | 1990 |
| Deactivated | 2015–2016 (modernization) |
| Foundation | stone and rock |
| Construction | stone tower |
| Tower shape | tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | red tower with horizontal central white band, red lantern |
| Height | 26 m (85 ft) |
| Focal height | 23 m (75 ft) |
| Original lens | small 3rd order catadioptric twin spectacle lens |
| Intensity | 116,000 candela |
| Range | 18 nmi (33 km) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 20s. |
The Longstone Lighthouse is an important lighthouse located on Longstone Rock. This rock is part of the Farne Islands, which are off the coast of Northumberland, England.
This lighthouse was finished in 1826. It was first known as the Outer Farne Lighthouse. It worked with the older Inner Farne Lighthouse to guide ships safely. Longstone Lighthouse is most famous for a shipwreck in 1838. A brave young woman named Grace Darling, whose father was the lighthouse keeper, helped rescue people from the ship.
Contents
History of the Lighthouse
Early Lights on the Islands
For a long time, the Farne Islands needed lights to warn ships. Many ships crashed on the hidden rocks there. In 1673, King Charles II wanted lighthouses built. But the plan didn't happen because ship owners didn't want to pay for them.
Later, in 1778, a man named Captain John Blackett built two simple lights. These were coal-fired beacons. One was on Staple Island, and the other was on Inner Farne. Sadly, the Staple Island light was damaged by a storm. A new one was built on Brownsman Island in 1795.
The Darling family worked as lighthouse keepers on these islands. Robert Darling was a keeper, and his son William took over in 1815.
The lights on Brownsman Island were not in the best spot. Many ships kept crashing on the outer rocks. After several ships were lost in 1823 and 1824, a new plan was made. Trinity House, the group in charge of lighthouses, decided to build a new one. They chose Longstone, one of the furthest islands.
Building the Current Lighthouse
The Longstone Lighthouse was designed by Joseph Nelson. It was built quite quickly and first lit on February 15, 1826. The lighthouse cost about £4,771 to build.
The tower was painted red. It had a light that spun around, showing a bright flash every 30 seconds. Inside, it had twelve lamps that rotated.
William and Grace Darling
In 1826, William Darling and his family moved to Longstone Lighthouse. He became the new lighthouse keeper. On September 7, 1838, his daughter Grace saw a ship called the Forfarshire wrecked on a nearby island.
Grace Darling became very famous for her bravery. She and her father rowed out in a small boat in a terrible storm. They helped rescue people from the sinking ship. Both Grace and her father received a special silver medal for their courage.
Lighthouse Improvements
Over the years, the lighthouse was improved. In 1873, a new special lens was added. This lens helped make the light much brighter. It still flashed white every thirty seconds. This old lens is now on display at the Thinktank Science Museum in Birmingham.
A fog siren was added in 1876. This loud sound helped warn ships when it was foggy. It made two blasts every two minutes. Later, a more powerful siren was installed around 1890.
In 1895, a white stripe was painted around the middle of the red tower.
Modern Upgrades
.jpg)
During the Second World War in 1942, the building for the fog signal was damaged. In 1951, a new building was put in its place for the keepers to live in.
Between 1946 and 1952, the lighthouse got a big upgrade. The light was changed to run on electricity. A new, special lens was put in. This new light was very powerful. New engines were also installed to create electricity for the lamp and air for the fog siren. A new, loud siren was also added. The old lens from 1873 was sent to a museum.
Automation of the Lighthouse
In 1990, the Longstone Lighthouse became fully automated. This means that machines took over the work, and lighthouse keepers were no longer needed to live there. Before this, an electric fog signal replaced the old siren.
Until 2015, the lighthouse used diesel generators all the time. Then, solar power was added. This made the lighthouse much more environmentally friendly. New LED lights were also installed. The diesel generators are now only used as a backup.
Longstone Lighthouse Today
Longstone Lighthouse is still working today. It is watched from far away by Trinity House, a group that manages lighthouses in England.
You can visit the lighthouse by boat. Special boat trips are offered by The Golden Gate Boat Trip Company. It's a great way to see this historic lighthouse up close!
See also
- List of lighthouses in England
