Needles Lighthouse

Needles Lighthouse
Aerial view of Needles Lighthouse
LocationAlum Bay
Isle of Wight
England
OS gridSZ2895484811
Coordinates50°39′44.2″N 1°35′30.5″W / 50.662278°N 1.591806°W / 50.662278; -1.591806
Tower
Constructed1786 (first)
Built byJames Walker 
Constructiongranite tower
Automated1994
Height31 m (102 ft)
Shapecylindrical tower with lantern and helipad above lantern
Markingstower with red and white bands
OperatorTrinity House
HeritageGrade II listed building 
Fog signaltwo blasts every 30s.
Light
First lit1859 (current)
Focal height24 m (79 ft)
Lens2nd order 700mm fixed lens
Intensitywhite: 12,300 candela
red (intensified): 3,950 candela
red: 1,800 candela
green 2,860 candela
Rangewhite: 16 nmi (30 km; 18 mi)
red and green: 11 nmi (20 km; 13 mi)
CharacteristicOc (2) WRG 20s.

The Needles Lighthouse is an active 19th century lighthouse on the outermost of the chalk rocks at The Needles on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom, near sea level. Designed by James Walker, for Trinity House at a cost of £20,000, it was completed in 1859 from granite blocks. It stands 33.25 metres (109.1 ft) high and is a circular tower with straight sides. It replaced an earlier light tower on top of a cliff overhanging Scratchell's Bay, which was first lit on 29 September 1786.