Peninnis Lighthouse

The light was built to replace the lighthouse in the centre of the island of St Agnes and helps vessels to enter Hugh Town harbour, via St Mary's Sound. It was first lit in 1911, is circular, {{convert|45|ft}} tall and consists of a black steel open lattice foundation, white gallery and black–domed top.

Initially, the lamp used was an incandescent burner which was powered by oil gas; the fuel was kept on site in four pressurised tanks (with a total capacity of 700 cubic feet), which the local Trinity House vessel would keep replenished.{{cite journal |title=Notes on Lighting |journal=The British Trade Journal |date=April 1, 1912 |volume=50 |page=155}} It was classed as a 'semi-watched' light (i.e. it did not require the full-time attendance of a keeper). The rotating third-order optic was driven by clockwork; it displayed a white flash every 20 seconds and its beam had a range of {{convert|16|nmi}}.

In 1922 the lighthouse was converted to automatic acetylene operation.{{cite journal |title=General Lighthouse Fund |journal=Parliamentary Papers |date=1923 |volume=19 |page=8}} (Acetylene was used to drive the rotating optic as well as fuelling the lamp).{{cite book |last1=Woodman |first1=Richard |last2=Wilson |first2=Jane |title=The Lighthouses of Trinity House |date=2002 |publisher=Thomas Reed |location=Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts. |page=195}} It was converted to electricity in 1992.{{cite book|last=Denton|first=Tony|title=Lighthouses of England and Wales. A complete guide|year=2007|publisher=Landmark Publishing Ltd|location=Ashbourne|isbn=978-1-84306-3193|author2=Leach, Nicholas}}

In late 2011, the year of its centenary, the lighthouse was updated, and at the same time downgraded (its visible range being reduced from 17 to {{convert|9|nmi}} in accordance with the Trinity House 2010 Aids to Navigation review).Changes to lighthouse as it marks 100th year. Cornishman 28 July 2011. p 15.{{cite web |url=http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/lighthouses/lighthouse_list/peninnis.html |title=Peninnis Lighthouse |access-date=26 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615082033/http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/lighthouses/lighthouse_list/peninnis.html |archive-date=15 June 2012 }} A single-tier LED lantern, mounted on the exterior rail of the structure, now provides the light; within the lantern the old revolving lens still remains in situ, but it is no longer in use.

{{Portal|Cornwall|Engineering}}

• List of lighthouses in England

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|position=left|Peninnis Head Light}}

• [https://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/lighthouses-and-lightvessels/peninnis-lighthouse Peninnis Lighthouse at Trinity House]
• [http://www.worldwidelighthouses.com/Lighthouses/English-Lighthouses/Trinity-House-Owned/Peninnis Worldwide Lighthouses]

{{Isles of Scilly}}

{{Lighthouses of Trinity House}}

{{Lighthouses in England}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Lighthouses completed in 1911

Category:Lighthouses in the Isles of Scilly

Category:1911 establishments in England

Category:Grade II listed lighthouses

Category:Grade II listed buildings in Cornwall

Category:St Mary's, Isles of Scilly

{{Europe-lighthouse-stub}}