As reported by News OnTheWight last week, St Catherine’s Lighthouse on the southern most tip of the Isle of Wight, has now had its 100-year-old optical lenses removed and replaced with temporary static LED light.
The move is part of the moderisation of the lighthouse, which you can read more about in our previous report.
One aspect that wasn’t clear last week, was whether the iconic rotating beam (or sweeping light) from east to west would return when the permanent LED light was fitted.
Flash of light rather than beam
A spokesperson for Trinity House has now confirmed the details. They told News OnTheWight,
“St Catherine’s light character will remain as one flash every five seconds.
“However, rather than the rotating beam of light, there will be a one second flash (in all directions) every five seconds.”
They go on to explain that the light range will also be reduced from 25NM to 18 NM, adding,
“The fixed red sector light will remain unchanged in its characteristics.”
Stored securely
Following the reported theft of a £1m lighthouse lantern from a storage facility in Devon, News OnTheWight sought reassurance from Trinity House that the St Catherine’s lenses were stored securely on the Island.
The Trinity House spokesperson replied,
“All of our optics are securely stored and accounted for.”
Image: © with kind permission of Damian
