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Maughold Head Lighthouse is an active 20th century lighthouse, located on the headland of the same name at the southern end of Ramsey Bay on the eastern coast of the
Designed by Charles and David, two brothers from the notable Stevenson lighthouse engineering family, it consists of a 23 metre high masonry tower, with the lighthouse keepers accommodation built on the headland above at the same level as the lantern. A set of 127 steps links the tower to the keeper's cottage.
The optic was supplied by
Northern Lighthouses Board
{{Authority control Lighthouses completed in 1914 Lighthouses in the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
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, image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg
, image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg
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, map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe
, map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green)
in Europ ...
. Completed in 1914, it was designed by David A
David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...
and Charles Stevenson.
History
Following a complaint by the shipping owner Lord Inverclyde that a number of ships had foundered as a result of poor maritime signalling near the Whitestone Bank, and that a fog signal should be built at Maughold Head, the need for a new lighthouse was raised in 1909 by theCommissioners of Northern Light Houses
The Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) is the general lighthouse authority for Scotland and the Isle of Man. It is a non-departmental public body responsible for marine navigation aids around coastal areas.
History
The NLB was formed by Act of Pa ...
. Trinity House
"Three In One"
, formation =
, founding_location = Deptford, London, England
, status = Royal Charter corporation and registered charity
, purpose = Maintenance of lighthouses, buoys and beacons
, he ...
stated that there was already a fog and light signal established on the Bahama Bank Lightship nearby. But after further discussion, and with the support of the Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a British government body concerned with commerce and industry, currently within the Department for International Trade. Its full title is The Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council appointed for the consideration of ...
they approved the works for a lightstation to be built on Maughold Head.
Designed by Charles and David, two brothers from the notable Stevenson lighthouse engineering family, it consists of a 23 metre high masonry tower, with the lighthouse keepers accommodation built on the headland above at the same level as the lantern. A set of 127 steps links the tower to the keeper's cottage.
The optic was supplied by Chance Brothers
Chance Brothers and Company was a glassworks originally based in Spon Lane, Smethwick, West Midlands (formerly in Staffordshire), in England. It was a leading glass manufacturer and a pioneer of British glassmaking technology.
The Chance f ...
of Smethwick
Smethwick () is an industrial town in Sandwell, West Midlands, England. It lies west of Birmingham city centre. Historically it was in Staffordshire.
In 2019, the ward of Smethwick had an estimated population of 15,246, while the wider bu ...
, the fog signal and other ancillary equipment by Dove & Co of Edinburgh. The 1st order Fresnel lens
A Fresnel lens ( ; ; or ) is a type of composite compact lens developed by the French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel (1788–1827) for use in lighthouses. It has been called "the invention that saved a million ships."
The design allows the ...
is still in use.
Maughold Head Lighthouse became operational on 15 April 1914, and the Bahama Bank Lightship was subsequently taken out of service.
With a focal height of above the sea, the light has a nominal range of 15 nautical miles
A nautical mile is a unit of length used in air, marine, and space navigation, and for the definition of territorial waters. Historically, it was defined as the meridian arc length corresponding to one minute ( of a degree) of latitude. Today t ...
, and has a characteristic of three flashes of white light every thirty seconds. The fog signal, which formed the major part of justification for the station, produced a single blast every 90 seconds. It was deactivated in 1987.
Following automation in 1993, the former keeper's cottages were converted into bed and breakfast holiday accommodation, they were later sold in 2014 for a guide price of £600,000.
The light and tower continues to be maintained by the Northern Lighthouse Board, and is registered under the international Admiralty number A4786 and has the NGA identifier of 114–5036.
See also
* List of lighthouses in the Isle of Man *List of Northern Lighthouse Board lighthouses
This is a list of the currently operational lighthouses of the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB). The list is divided by geographical location, and then by whether the lighthouses are classed by the NLB as a 'major lighthouse' or a 'minor light'. ...
References
External links
Northern Lighthouses Board
{{Authority control Lighthouses completed in 1914 Lighthouses in the Isle of Man