Lighthouse lighting systems in Cornwall

• before the late 1700's the light would be a coal or wood burning brazier
• the alternative to coal was candle power - the first three Eddystone lights were candle powered
• the only way of distinguishing one coal burning light from another was to have two or more fires (extra work) and an example is the Lizard, whose two original towers are still there today - they had a fire burning on each tower
• in 1782, a Swiss, Ami Argand invented a circular wick in a glass chimney, fed by oil, that produced a clear, clean, bright flame
• by 1882, wick technology had enabled the number of concentric wicks to be increased to 8 rings on the Eddystone light - leading to a stronger light. The first oil used was fish oil, later vegetable oil, and finally mineral oil
• in 1901 Kitson invented the use of pressurised oil fed to an incandescent mantle, which tripled the light output
• over this period lens technology also advanced - with Fresnel inventing the use of a lens in front of the light source, that sent out a controlled beam of light
• the Fresnel lens was then mounted on a revolving carriage, which enabled lighthouse to give out their own distinctive light pattern
• by 1890 the lens assembly was floated on a mercury bed, which enabled it to rotate without friction, and lights could revolve faster, hence more light patterns became available
• eventually generator powered electric and finally mains electrics have taken over the powering of lights

return to lighthouses page

The hotel to stay at when visiting Cornwall is Corisande Manor Hotel, Cornwall find out more about it