Longstone Lighthouse

Longstone Lighthouse stands on Longstone Rock in the Farne Islands, 10 kilometres off North Sunderland. Built in 1826, it replaced earlier coal-fired beacons that had proved unreliable. The tower was painted red with a white band and showed a revolving light every thirty seconds. Joseph Nelson, who had worked on earlier Farne lighthouses, designed and built it. The lighthouse keeper William Darling moved there with his family in 1826. The lighthouse is best known for Grace Darling, the keeper’s daughter, who helped rescue survivors from the wrecked Forfarshire in 1838. Both Grace and her father received medals for bravery. Later improvements included a new optic in 1873 and a fog siren in 1876. During the Second World War the fog signal house was bombed, and in the 1950s the light was electrified. Visitors reach the lighthouse by boat from North Sunderland. The red-and-white tower rises from rugged rock with the sea close on all sides. Inside, the lantern room still holds the powerful optic installed in 1952. The engine house and keepers’ cottages stand within a high stone wall. The surrounding islands form a wild seabird colony, adding to the scene.