History
In 1855 the Lord Commissioners of the Admiralty requested that the lighthouse be installed other than the harbour 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 this one. The Douglas Head Lighthouse is the only sea light between the Calf of Man and the Point of Ayre - some forty miles away.
Structural problems meant the lighthouse was restructured in 1892.
The foghorn, known locally as 'Moaning Minnie', was added in 1908. It caused many complaints in Douglas but it was later moved around the head to reduce the upset to local people.
The lighthouse was automated in 1986.
Recently, a new public footpath was constructed by the Commissioners from the top of Port Skillion down to the Light for the benefit of tourists and sightseers.
Read more about this topic: Douglas Head Lighthouse
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“In front of these sinister facts, the first lesson of history is the good of evil. Good is a good doctor, but Bad is sometimes a better.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“The history of the genesis or the old mythology repeats itself in the experience of every child. He too is a demon or god thrown into a particular chaos, where he strives ever to lead things from disorder into order.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“These anyway might think it was important
That human history should not be shortened.”
—Robert Frost (1874–1963)