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The '''Needles Lighthouse''' was built by [[Trinity House]] in 1859 on the outermost of the chalk rocks near sea level. Designed by [[James Walker (engineer)|James Walker]], it cost £20,000. Constructed from granite, it stands {{convert|33.25|m|ft}} high and is a circular tower with straight sides.
The '''Needles Lighthouse''' was built by [[Trinity House]] in 1859 on the outermost of the [[chalk]] rocks near sea level. Designed by [[James Walker (engineer)|James Walker]], it cost £20,000. Constructed from granite, it stands {{convert|33.25|m|ft}} high and is a circular tower with straight sides.


It replaced a light tower on top of a cliff overhanging [[Scratchell's Bay]], which was first lit on 29 September 1786. Its height of 144m above sea level meant it was often obscured by fog and sea mists.<ref name=TrinityHouseNeedlesLighthouse>{{cite web
It replaced a light tower on top of a cliff overhanging [[Scratchell's Bay]], which was first lit on 29 September 1786. Its height of 144m above sea level meant it was often obscured by fog and sea mists.<ref name=TrinityHouseNeedlesLighthouse>{{cite web

Revision as of 10:37, 4 April 2016

Needles Lighthouse
Aerial view of Needles Lighthouse
Map
LocationAlum Bay, Isle of Wight, UK
OS gridSZ2895484811
Coordinates50°39′44″N 1°35′30″W / 50.6622°N 1.5917°W / 50.6622; -1.5917
Tower
Constructed1786 (1st); 1859 (2nd)
Built byJames Walker Edit this on Wikidata
Constructionstone, granite Edit this on Wikidata
Automated1994
Height31 m (102 ft)
OperatorTrinity House Edit this on Wikidata
HeritageGrade II listed building Edit this on Wikidata
Fog signalSounding Twice Every 30 Seconds
Light
First lit1859 Edit this on Wikidata
Focal height24 m (79 ft)
Lenssecond order Fresnel lens Edit this on Wikidata
IntensityRed (Intensified) 3,950 Candela, White 12,300 Candela, Red 1,800 Candela, Green 2,860 Candela
RangeRed (intensified) and White - 17 nmi (31 km; 20 mi); Red and Green - 14 nmi (26 km; 16 mi)
CharacteristicWhite, Red and Green Group Occurring twice every 20 seconds (light 14 seconds, eclipse 2 seconds, light 2 seconds, eclipse 2 seconds)

The Needles Lighthouse was built by Trinity House in 1859 on the outermost of the chalk rocks near sea level. Designed by James Walker, it cost £20,000. Constructed from granite, it stands 33.25 metres (109.1 ft) high and is a circular tower with straight sides.

It replaced a light tower on top of a cliff overhanging Scratchell's Bay, which was first lit on 29 September 1786. Its height of 144m above sea level meant it was often obscured by fog and sea mists.[1]

In 1987 a helipad was added to the top of the lighthouse, and it became fully automated when the last keepers left on 8 December 1994.[1] One of the last three remaining manned rock lighthouses in England and Wales, before automation it was staffed by a three-man crew operating a 24-hour watch, serving one month on / one month off, living in rudimentary conditions in three levels below the light.[2]

Due to the condition of the chalk strata on which the lighthouse was built, in April 2010 a £500,000 underpinning project was announced, designed to stop the lighthouse falling into the sea.[3] Over a 12-week period from early June, civil marine contractors Nuttall John Martin were due to dig a trench around the base of the lighthouse, install a ring of stabilising posts, and infill it with concrete.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "Needles Lighthouse". Trinity House. n.d. Archived from the original on 25 May 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  2. ^ Nowicka, Helen (15 August 1993). "Last one out, leave the light on: The Needles lighthouse is to lose its keepers as manning is phased out around Britain". London: The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  3. ^ "Rescue to save Needles lighthouse landmark". The Mirror. 30 April 2010. Archived from the original on 25 May 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  4. ^ "Work to start on crumbling lighthouse". Isle of Wight County Press. 28 April 2010. Archived from the original on 25 May 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2010.

Needles Lighthouse Solar Powered Web Camera