The Lizard Lighthouse

Positioned on Lizard Point, and built to guide vessels passing through the English Channel. Seen as the welcoming beacon to many returning to England; this is the iconic Lizard Lighthouse.

It’s been with us since the beginning, and so it’s about time we discussed what lays beyond our windows.

The waters around the Lizard have always been a hazardous shipping zone and, long before the lighthouse was built there, there had been demands for one to guide and warn approaching vessels.

It was first commissioned by Trinity House in 1752, but it was actually built first in 1619. Making it more than 200 years old! The main tower is 70 metres above the hazardous coastline around Lizard Point and the light can be seen from 26 nautical miles away.

In 1874, the site was significantly upgraded by the building of an engine room to provide electric power, not only for the lights but also for a fog siren (much loved by our guests). It wasn’t until 1998 that the fog horn was decommissioned and replaced with an automatic electronic fog signal (the booming tone we hear today) where at the time it was the last compressed-air fog signal still in use in the UK.

For us, the Lizard Lighthouse is integral to our history, landscape and to remind us we are right in amongst this working coastline. Its deep tone of the horn, and the shine of the light, gives us comfort that our sailors remain safe at sea.