Lizard Lighthouse

Lizard Lighthouse
	Lizard Lighthouse (2003)
Place:	Cornwall , England
Location:	On the Lizard Point peninsula
Geographical location:	49 ° 57 '36.7 " N , 5 ° 12' 8" W Coordinates: 49 ° 57 '36.7 " N , 5 ° 12' 8" W.
Identifier :	A flash every 3 seconds
Scope knows:	26 nm (48.2 km )
Optics:	Metal halogen
Operating mode:	electric
Function:	Sea fire
Construction time:	1752

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The Lizard Lighthouse is a lighthouse in Cornwall in England , at Lizard Point on a cliff on the Atlantic Ocean . The lighthouse guides ships around The Lizard Peninsula and warns them of the dangerous coastal waters. In addition, it is a landmark for ships coming from or wanting to enter the English Channel . It is operated and maintained by Trinity House Lighthouse Service, the official English authority responsible for the maintenance of lighthouses and other navigation signs. It is comparable to the Waterways and Shipping Office in Germany .

history

The first tower on this site was built on the private initiative of Sir John Killigrew in 1619. The ships that passed The Lizard were supposed to pay for the provision of the tower and thus secure its funding. The first building had only one tower and produced its light with an open fire. However, the concept did not work because the ship owners did not want to pay the levy and so the light went out a short time later. Subsequently, the patent issued by Trinity House was withdrawn and the first tower was destroyed because Killigrew could not pay for the maintenance from private funds.

The current tower was completed in 1752 according to plans by Thomas Fonnereau . The new building consists of two octagonal towers, a building in between and another building in front, on which there are now two large fog horns . Trinity House took over management in 1771, the tower was electrified in 1903, the western tower was taken out of service and the two permanently glowing lights were exchanged for a flashing light. In 1998 operations were automated.

Visitor center

At the lighthouse is a visitor center, opened in 2009, which shows some old machines and the history of the lighthouse, including the compressors that supplied the foghorns with compressed air. Entry is currently six pounds sterling . The tower can be reached via a road from Lizard Village, about 1.6 kilometers away, and via the South West Coast Path , which runs along the steep coast directly in front of the tower.