Point of Ayre Lighthouse

Point of Ayre Lighthouse
	The High light in 2010
Location	Point of Ayre, Isle of Man
Coordinates	54°24′56.7″N 4°22′05.2″W
Tower
Constructed	1818
Construction	limestone tower
Automated	1993
Height	30 metres (98 ft)
Shape	cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings	white tower with two broad red bands, black lantern
Operator	Northern Lighthouse Board
Heritage	registered building
Racon	M
Light
First lit	1818
Focal height	32 metres (105 ft)
Range	19 nautical miles (35 km; 22 mi)
Characteristic	Fl (4) W 20s.
Point of Ayre Low Light
Constructed	1888
Construction	concrete
Height	10 m (33 ft)
Heritage	registered building
Deactivated	7 April 2010
Focal height	10 m (33 ft)
Range	8 nmi (15 km; 9.2 mi)
Characteristic	Fl W 3s (–2010)

The Point of Ayre Lighthouse is an active 19th century lighthouse, sited at the Point of Ayre at the north-eastern end of the Isle of Man. It was designed and built by Robert Stevenson, grandfather of prolific writer and novelist Robert Louis Stevenson, under the Isle of Man and Calf of Man Lighthouses Act 1815 (55 Geo. 3. c. lxvii) and was first lit in 1818, making it the oldest operational lighthouse on the island.^[1]^[2]

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The lighthouse still retains its original 1st order Fresnel lens from 1890, which was supplied by Barbier, Benard, et Turenne of Paris. With a focal height or elevation of 32 metres (105 ft) above sea level, the light from the 30 metres (98 ft) tower has a nominal range of around 19 nautical miles (35 km). Its light characteristic is made up of a pattern of four flashes of white light every twenty seconds. The tower has a distinctive daymark of two red bands, the light can be seen clearly from across the water in south-west Scotland.^[1]

Owing to the continuous accumulation of shingle and gravel deposited by the strong currents, a smaller light commonly referred to as a 'winkie' had to be built 750 feet (230 m) to the seaward side of the main tower in 1899. This was then repositioned a further 250 feet (76 m) in the same direction and for the same reasons in 1950. The 'winkie' light was discontinued on 7 April 2010.^[1]^[2]

The lighthouse buildings and land have been in private ownership since 1993 when the light was fully automated. The light continues to be maintained by the Northern Lighthouse Board based in Edinburgh. In August, 2005, the fog signal at the lighthouse was decommissioned owing to the assumed reliance and availability of GPS and modern shipping guidance systems.^[2]