Longships is the name given to a group of rocky islets situated approximately 11⁄4 miles (2 km) west of Land's End, Cornwall, United Kingdom.[1]
Much of the Longship group is submerged at high water but the three largest islets in the group – Tal-y-Maen, Carn Bras, and Meinek – remain above the high water mark.
Two smaller rocks known as Kettle's Bottom are situated midway between Longship and the coast. The Longships islets (but not Kettle's Bottom rocks) are in the civil parish of Sennen.[2]
The islets are very popular for recreational diving (see also British Sub-Aqua Club). The sea around Longships has clear water with prolific marine life and flora.[3]
The Longships Lighthouse stands on Carn Bras, the highest islet which rises 12 metres (39 ft) above high water level. The original tower was built in 1795 to the design of Trinity House architect Samuel Wyatt. The lantern was 24 metres (79 ft) above sea level but very high seas obscured its light.[4]
In 1869 Trinity House began constructing a replacement.[5] The building of the present granite tower used much of the equipment that had previously been used in the construction of the Wolf Rock Lighthouse.[5] The tower was first lit in December 1873 having cost £43,870 to build.[5] Even after these improvements, the S.S. Bluejacket was wrecked on rocks near the lighthouse on a clear night in 1898, nearly demolishing the lighthouse in the process.
Since 1988, the lighthouse has been unmanned. Its light has a range of 11 nautical miles (20 km), and gives one long five-second flash every ten seconds. The flashes are white when seen from seaward, but red sectors show if a vessel strays too close to either Cape Cornwall to the north or Gwennap Head to the south-southeast. A fog signal sounds every ten seconds.
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