Douglas Head Lighthouse

Douglas Head Lighthouse is a lighthouse at Douglas Head on the Isle of Man located between England and Ireland.The lighthouse was established in 1857, although the vicinity was under the control of the Isle of Man Harbour Board from 1832.It was made by the engineering brothers David and Thomas Stevenson with a total elevation of 32m. The white tower is 20m in height and its base is at an elevation of 12m.The lighthouse staircase has 71 steps and the light has an average range of 24nmi. The lantern is composed of eight brilliant reflectors made of pure silver built in 1831. The light flashes white every ten seconds.HistoryIn 1855 the Lord Commissioners of the Admiralty requested the installation of a lighthouse in addition to the harbor light at Douglas Harbour. A parliamentary report at the time revealed that the light already existing in Douglas had been out of operation since 1850. There were originally two lighthouses, one on the pier, which had to remain a harbour light, and the Douglas Head Lighthouse. The Douglas Head Lighthouse is the only sea light between the Calf of Man and the Point of Ayre - some 64km away.Structural problems required the lighthouse to be rebuilt in 1892.The foghorn, known locally as 'Moaning Minnie', was added in 1908. It caused many complaints in Douglas, and it was later moved around the head to reduce the upset it caused to local people.