St. Catherine's Lighthouse
 The lighthouse, with fog-signal tower attached | |
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| Location | St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight, UK |
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| Coordinates | 50°34′33″N 1°17′54″W / 50.57583°N 1.29833°W |
| Year first constructed | c.1323 (1st); 1838 (2nd) |
| Year first lit | 1840 |
| Automated | 1997 |
| Construction | ashlar |
| Tower shape | octagonal tower |
| Height | 27 m (89 ft) |
| Focal height | 41 m (135 ft) |
| Current lens | 2nd Order 4 Panel Catadioptric |
| Intensity | 821,000 Candela |
| Range | 25 nmi (46 km; 29 mi) |
| Characteristic | One white flash every 5 seconds |
St. Catherine's Lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouse locations in Great Britain. The first lighthouse was established on St. Catherine's Point in 1323 on the orders of the Pope, after a ship ran aground nearby and its cargo was either lost or plundered. Once part of St. Catherine's Oratory, its octagonal stone tower can still be seen today to the west of Niton at the foot of the Undercliff. It is known locally as the "Pepperpot".[1]
The new lighthouse, built by Trinity House in 1838, was constructed as a 40-metre (130 ft) stone tower; however, its light was often obscured by fog, which led to its height being reduced by 13-metre (43 ft) in 1875. It has a range of 25 nautical miles (46 km; 29 mi) and is the third-most powerful of all the lights maintained by Trinity House.[2] Another tower, built immediately alongside in 1932, houses the now redundant fog signal (discontinued in 1987).
Trinity House provides tours of the lighthouse year round.
References
- ↑ Woodman and Wilson (2002). The Lighthouses of Trinity House. Bradford on Avon: Reed. ISBN 1-904050-00-X.
- ↑ Trinity House website
External links
- St. Catherine's Lighthouse - official tour information at Trinity House
- Photos and information on St. Catherine's Lighthouse
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Coordinates: 50°34′33″N 1°17′52″W / 50.5757°N 1.2979°W