This is the furthest bastion of the Isles of Scilly, before land is sighted on the Americas.
An iron tower was built in 1847-50, engineers Nicholas Douglass and his son James.
Incomplete, it was blown down in a horrendous gale in 1850. It was in 1852 that work re-commenced.
The material chosen this time was Carnsew granite and it was completed in 1858.
More Atlantic gales caused severe damage and it was determined to build a granite
base and protection. In 1882 work was completed by James and his son William Tregarthen Douglass.
It is a 'tradition' in my family that we have a relation with the Douglass family, as yet it is not clear.
It is now the tallest lighthouse in Britain at 165 feet height.
The helicopter pad was added in 1977.
