St Agnes lighthouse

This list entry was subjected to a Minor Enhancement 5 June 2024 to amend details in the description, name and address and reformat the text to current standards

SV80NE 1358-0/6/10

ST. AGNES St Agnes lighthouse

(Formerly listed as The Lighthouse)

06/04/59

GV II*

Lighthouse. 1680 for Trinity House, with cupola of 1806.

MATERIALS: Colourwashed render on granite rubble, with cast-iron and glass cupola.

PLAN: Circular on plan.

EXTERIOR: Three storeys with fourth-storey cupola. Two plat-band divisions. Randomly-placed casement and four-pane openings. Projecting eaves with cast-iron railing, curved stanchions tied to glass cupola with square panes with curved conical roof. Addition of c1840 consists of single-storey lean-to porch and corridor attached with further right-angled corridor attached leading to house (q.v.).

INTERIOR: noted as having lantern reached by wooden newel stair from first floor and carried by shallow stone vault (replacing original timber ceiling); stone mural stair to first floor which has four gun ports.

HISTORY: Plaque records original build of c1680 by Captain Hugh Hill and Captain Simon Bayly, builders of the 1676 Lowestoft lighthouse. Superseded in 1910 by the Peninnis Lighthouse, St. Mary's (q.v.). The original iron cresset is now in Tresco Gardens (q.v.).

SOURCES: Hague D and Christie R, Lighthouses: Their Architecture, History and Archaeology, 1975, 79-81, 241-4.

Listing NGR: SV8803008216