Alderney Lighthouse
 Alderney Lighthouse | |
 | |
| Location | Alderney English Channel |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 49°43′45″N 2°09′51″W / 49.7292°N 2.1643°WCoordinates: 49°43′45″N 2°09′51″W / 49.7292°N 2.1643°W |
| Constructed | 1912 |
| Construction | granite tower |
| Tower height | 32 metres (105 ft) |
| Tower shape | conical tower with balcony and lantern attached to keeper's house |
| Markings | white tower with one broad black band |
| Operator | Trinity House |
| Automated | 1997 |
| Focal height | 37 metres (121 ft) |
| Lens | 1st Order 920mm 4 panel Catadioptric (original), 2 X 4-tier LED Lantern (current) |
| Intensity | 4,140 candela |
| Range | 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W (4) 15s |
| Admiralty no. | A1536 |
| NGA no. | 8300 |
| Fog signal | siren: 3 blasts every 20 seconds whistle: 2 blasts ever 15 seconds |
| ARLHS no. | GUE-004 |
The Alderney Lighthouse (also known as Mannez Lighthouse) is a stone lighthouse built on the North-East coast of the island of Alderney. It was constructed in 1912[1] to protect shipping from the dangerous waters of the Alderney Race and the numerous rocks surrounding Alderney.
History[]
The Alderney Lighthouse was constructed from granite in 1912 under the guidance of local businessman . It was electrified in 1976, and automated in 1997, when the last resident lighthouse keeper left. The Trinity House Central Planning Unit in Essex controls and maintains the lighthouse.[2][3]
Before its construction there were several notable wrecks off Alderney, including the Leros. It still functions as a lighthouse, but is open for guided tours during the summer months[4] when it is linked with the rest of the island by the Alderney Railway.
In March 2011 the lighthouse was downgraded. The light reduced from 24hrs with a 23 nautical miles (43 km; 26 mi) range to dark hours only with a 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi).[5] This downgrade meant that the main beam was switched off, the lens shrouded and the light pulse now provided by a pair of LED lamps fixed to the sides of the tower.[6] The fog signal was stopped at the same time.[7]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Mannez Lighthouse". Archived from the original on 12 April 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
- ^ "Alderney Lighthouse". Trinity House. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
- ^ "Mannez lighthouse on Alderney is well known to Channel Island sailors". Visit Alderney. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
- ^ The Alderney Journal- ‘Alderney Lighthouse’
- ^ "BBC News - Reach of Alderney lighthouse beam to be halved". BBC. 12 March 2011. Archived from the original on 19 March 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
- ^ "Alderney Lighthouse" (PDF). U.S. Lighthouse Society - Lighthouses of the United Kingdom. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
- ^ "BBC News - Call to retain Guernsey and Alderney foghorns". BBC. 3 April 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
- Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Guernsey". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
External links[]
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- Lighthouses completed in 1912
- Lighthouses in Alderney
- Museums in the Channel Islands
- Lighthouse museums in the United Kingdom
- 1912 establishments in the United Kingdom
- European lighthouse stubs