Peninnis Lighthouse

Peninnis Lighthouse, located on the rugged southern tip of St. Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly, was built in 1911 by Trinity House to replace the older St Agnes Lighthouse. Standing 14 meters tall with a focal height of 36 meters above sea level, this black-and-white metal skeletal tower emits a white flash every 20 seconds, visible for up to 9 nautical miles, and includes a fog signal for poor weather conditions. Originally powered by acetylene and driven by a clockwork mechanism, it was electrified in 1992 and later upgraded to an LED lantern in 2011, though its original third-order optic still remains. Overlooking dramatic cliffs within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Peninnis Lighthouse is now fully automated and remotely managed from Harwich, continuing to guide vessels safely into Hugh Town harbor while standing as a striking and historically significant coastal landmark.