On the island Calf of Man, are three lighthouses: two from the period 1818-1875 and a recent one from 1986. The island Calf of Man has only two seasonal inhabitants.
The word 'calf' derives from the Old Norse word 'kalfr' which means a small island lying near a larger island. It is possible to reach the Calf of Man by boat from both Port Erin or Port St Mary on the isle of Man. Cow Harbour and South Harbour are the main landing places. The highest part of the island is in the west where peak reaches 128 meters above sea level.After reviewing the figures, the Liverpool Shipowners' Association requested the Northern Lighthouse Board to erect lighthouse(s) on the Calf of Man. In 1818, the lighthouse(s) were commissioned on the island by Robert Stevenson.
There are two lighthouses on the Calf of Man, a low and a high lighthouse, so placed that the line of their lights points towards the submerged Chicken Rock which is off the southern extremity of the island. (see also the video in the right column.)
The two leading lights were designed by Robert Stevenson in 1816 and the station was established in 1818. It comprised two towers, 170 meters apart, aligned to indicate a safe course past the dangerous Chicken Rock. The two lanterns were 114 and 85 meter above sea level and held double revolving lenses and leading lights without color. The keepers had to synchronise the two lights. The station consisted of two circular stone towers with lightkeepers accommodation and was built within 10 months.These dangerous waters, aside from this problem, were marked by these lighthouses for a period of nearly 60 years (between 1818- 1875).
In 1869, the Northern Lighthouse Commissioners approved a recommendation to build a lighthouse on the Chicken Rock. The lighthouse was completed and brought into operation in 1875. As a result the two lighthouses on the Calf of Man fell into disuse. The original lighthouse accommodation on the Calf of Man was now used as a shore station for the Chicken Rock lighthouse. (see also the video in the right column.)
The fog horn is an air operated signal of the "typhon" type where compressed air produces a sound by means of vibrating diaphgrams. The air is also compressed using vane-type compressors. The fog horn has an individual characteristic. The turning of the opening of the valves for this to give the correct characters and the opening of the valves themselves is done electrically.
During the automation in 1995, the fog horn was replaced by an electric horn, Emmiter type 2 - ELG 300 with an output of 142 decibels.
The electric power for both domestic and services is supplied by three 18 kw generator sets any one of which is capable of supplying the full station load. One set runs continuously so there is always a supply of electricity at the standard 240 V.
Should there be a complete breakdown of the electrical supply, the light can be operated at a reduced power (of about 176,000 candela's) from batteries for a period of up to 30 hours.Lighthouse keepers of the Calf of Man | ||||
Year | From Station | Keeper Name | To Station | Year |
Tiumpan Head | B. Bagg | HQ House Officer | 1970 | |
1974 | Douglas Head | L. Anderson | Retired | 1982 |
D. MacDonald | St Abbs Head | 1974 | ||
1974 | Langness | R. Shand | ||
1975 | Muckle Flugga | T. Georgeson | Resigned | 1978 |
G.C. Birse | Isle of May | 1975 | ||
W.B. Crockett | Noss Head | 1977 | ||
1977 | Douglas Head | G.F. Adamson | Rubha Reidh | 1983 |
1979 | SLK | N. Douglas | Sanda Island | 1983 |
1979 | SLA | A.M. Marshall | Killantringan | 1985 |
W.S. Smith | Covesea Skerries | 1979 | ||
1979 | Langness | N.S.Cargill | Strathy Point | 1984 |
1982 | Davaar | R.Gatt | Point of Ayre | 1987 |
1983 | Butt of Lewis | R. Grassom | Langness | 1986 |
1983 | Maugold Head | G. Dugdale | Sumburgh Head | 1986 |
1984 | Hyskier | A. MacKay | Retired | 1986 |
1985 | Maugold Head | W.J. Norris | Ailsa Craig | 1986 |
1986 | Sanda Island | M.R. Williams | Langness | 1991 |
1986 | Kinnaird Head | J. Drumond | Butt of Lewis | 1990 |
1986 | Cape Wrath | A. Dorricot | Muckle Flugga | 1991 |
1987 | Point of Ayre | A. Hutchison | Fair Isle | 1989 |
1989 | Mauglod Head | N.S. Cargill | Redundant | 1994 |
1990 | Butt of Lewis | D. MacIver | R/ALK | 1993 |
1991 | Sumburgh Head | M.A. Young | R/ALK | 1994 |
J. Burns | Retired | 1992 | ||
1992 | Hyskier | D. Leslie | Rhinns of Islay | 1993 |
1992 | Maugold Head | R.J. Daggert | Redundant | 1995 |
1993 | St Abbs Head | N. Muir | Retired | 1995 |
1993 | Point of Ayre | G. Adamson | Redundant | 1995 |
1994 | Strathy Point | M.N. Forge | 1995 | |
1994 | Fair Isle South | D. Wise | Hyskier | 1995 |
Local ALK | ||||
1974 | D.B. Hemsley | Retired | 1990 | |
1986 | T. Georgeson | Redundant | 1995 | |
Attendant | ||||
1995 | G.Adamson | Redundant | 2004 | |
Retained lighthouse Keeper | ||||
2004 | D. Fox | |||
The review addressed the current and future requirements of national and international vesselping and those of Mariners. Each Aid to Navigation - light, buoy or beacon - was studied in isolation, as well as in relation to the other Aids to Navigation in its surrounding. In the case of the Isle of Man the consultation took place with the Isle of Man Department of Transport (Harbours) and the Isle of Man users.
As a result of this review, it was agreed to extend the range of the lighthouse at Chicken Rock to 20 nautical miles and to discontinue the Calf of Man lighthouse. Other decisions affecting Isle of Man aids to navigation were to discontinue the fog signals at Chicken Rock, Calf of Man and Point of Ayre.
Project work to upgrade the Chicken Rock light has been ongoing since September 2006, and during this time a temporary light has operated. Work at the Chickens Rock was finally complete and the light showed its new range of 21 nautical miles with effect from 13 June 2007.
As a result of this upgrade, and to avoid any confusion between two long range lights in close proximity, the lighthouse at the Calf of Man was permanently discontinued with effect from 21 June 2007The island has been a bird observatory since 1959 and welcomes visits from volunteers and ornithologists. The observatory is able to accommodate up to eight visitors in basic self-catering accommodation which can be booked through Manx National Heritage.
Calf of Man is home to a breeding population of Manx shearwaters, a seabird which derives its name from its presence in Manx waters. The Calf of Man also has a large colony of seals which live and breed on the rocky coastline.Character: Discontinued
Engineer | Robert Stevenson (1772-1850) |
Lat, Lon | 54°03.240' N, 004°49.685' W |
Established | : 1818 |
Status | : Discontinued 1875 |
Authority | : Manx National Heritage |
Remarks | : Manx PBR308 - 07/07/2021 |
Character: Discontinued
Engineer | Robert Stevenson (1772-1850) | |
Lat, Lon | 54°03.151' N, 004°49.736' W | |
Established | : 1818 | |
Status | : Discontinued 1875 | |
Authority | : Manx National Heritage | |
Remarks | : Manx PBR309 - 07/07/2021 |
Keepers of the Calf of Man | |||
Keeper | To Station | Year | |
T. Dawson(PLK) | Chicken Rock | 1875 | |
H. Mercer | Chicken Rock | 1875 | |
N. McDonald | Chicken Rock | 1875 | |
P.J. Wallace | Chicken Rock | 1875 |
Character: Discontinued
(was Fl. 15 sec)
Engineer | : Peter H. Hyslop |
Lat, Lon | 54°03.201' N, 004°49.749' W |
Established | : 24 Juli 1968 |
Character | : Former: Flashing White every 15 s. |
Range | : was 26 NM ~ 48 km |
Elevation | : 93 meters above sea level |
Tower | : 11 meters, 36 steps to the top |
Init. Costs | : £ ?. |
Automated | : 31 March 1995 |
Last Keepers | : PLK - N. Muir |
ALK - G. Adamson | |
ALK - D. Wise | |
ALK - M.N. Forge | |
Light Power | : 4th Order Catodioptric lens |
Gearless pedastal AGAPRB20 | |
2x 250 Watt metal halide lamp | |
Standby lamp | : Tideland ML300 lantern |
Fog horn | : As built Air operated (1968) |
4 - Type KM135 and 4 - Type KM165 | |
Emmiter 2 - ELG 300 | |
1 blast every 45 s. | |
Discontinued 12 August 2005 | |
Status | : Discontinued 21 June 2007 |
Authority | : Manx National Heritage |
References: | ||
The Calf of Man Lighthouse | - Culture Vannin | |
Lighthouse Journey | - Fred Fox |