Pendeen lighthouse and keepers' cottages with courtyard walls

This list entry was subjected to a Minor Enhancement 31 May 2024 to amend details in the description and reformat the text to current standards

SW33NE 881-/3/10047

ST JUST PENDEEN Pendeen Lighthouse and Keeper Cottages with courtyard walls

GV II

Lighthouse and four keepers' cottages. Completed 1900 and designed by Sir Thomas Matthews, the Trinity House Engineer-in-Chief between 1892 and 1915; constructed by Arther Carkeek of Redruth and lantern supplied by Messrs. Chance of Birmingham.

MATERIALS: Painted render over granite rubble, with flat concrete roof (designed to catch rainwater) and rendered stacks with cornices to cottages.

PLAN: Each L-plan house is joined to make a rectangular plan with rear wings; the yards to the rear are enclosed by stone walls with timber wicket gates adjoining outhouses; the lighthouse tower is connected by a lobby attached to the centre of the main (west) elevation.

EXTERIOR: Dwellings have raised plinths, flat-faced rustication to window and door surrounds and bold eaves band. Single-storey cottages with two-light transomed casements (some plastic replacements). Plank doors with overlights, and projecting porches to front and to left (north) and right (south) returns with single-light windows.

Lighthouse tower: 8.6 metres (28ft 6inches) in height from ground to gallery, 4.2 metres (14ft) diameter, framing 3 metre (10ft) clear height of glazing, standard diamond and half-diamond glazing panels, steel panels in blank arc. First-order lantern and murette on gallery; domed copper roof surmounted by ventilator and weather vane. Single-light windows, a very deep cornice surmounted by gallery walkway with iron balustrade.

INTERIOR: dwellings retain original joinery. Tower has granite stairway up to service room, original cast-iron weight tube in centre. Curved oak cupboard against wall, top section with glazed doors, lower section containing lead-lined sink. Slate steps up to lantern, housing a first-order 900mm focal length, eight-panel, dioptric asymmetrical optic. Mounted on Chance Brothers mercury-float pedestal. The original Argand lamp was replaced by an electric one in 1926. Part of an impressive group with the encircling walls and engine house (qqv). Built after Trinity House had become increasingly concerned about the treacherous waters around Pendeen Watch.

Listing NGR: SW3789535893