The Longships Lighthouse

treeve · Mar 12, 2010

'Rocks rising from the sea are not uncommon, and certainly not prepossessing objects ; but topped with a building raised by human hands, and inhabited by human beings, the Longships, bleak and inhospitable as they are, at once become interesting : this little
tower gives additional character to the mournful waste, and quickens the desolation of the scene. How cheering must the sight of it be in the darkness of the night, when its light points out to the distant ship the dangers of her course, and guides her in safety through. The lighthouse was erected under the authority of the Corporation of Trinity House, of Deptford Strond, at the request of the trade, for the benefit of vessels sailing round the Land's-End into the British and St. George's channels. It was begun in 1791 but owing to some unexpected impediments, was not completed till 1795, in September of which year the light was first exhibited. The tower is built of granite : the stones are dovetailed, and the courses treenailed, on the same plan that was adopted by Smeaton in the construction of the Edystone. The circumference of the tower at its base is sixty-eight feet, and the height, from the rock to the vane of the lantern, fifty-two feet. The height of the rock, from the sea to the base of the lighthouse, is sixty feet. Though thus considerably raised above the sea, yet a large body of water sometimes passes over the building. During heavy gales it rocks violently under the shock of the wind and waves, but is constructed with such admirable skill, and is so incorporated with the rock on which it stands, that it has now weathered the storms of more than twenty winters, without sensible injury of any kind. The lantern, on the improved principle, is furnished with Argand lamps and reflectors, and gives a very brilliant light. This is seen many leagues off at sea by ships approaching the Land's-End, and affords them an infallible guide, which warns them of the Longships and other rocks situated near that promontory. These rocks lie very much in the way of navigation, and before the establishment of the light, had occasioned the wreck of many vessels, and the loss of many lives. No shipwrecks have happened on the Longships, or near them, during the last ten years.'

The Longships Lighthouse

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