A 1914 marvel. That’s Maughold Lighthouse. Standing tall on Maughold Head it guards Ramsey Bay. This magnificent structure wasn’t always there. Its story begins with a complaint. Lord Inverclyde a powerful shipping magnate voiced his concerns. Ships were being damaged near the Whitestone Bank. Its light often failed. The lack of a lighthouse between Point of Ayre and Douglas Head further fueled the need for improved navigation. Maughold Head Lighthouse was the solution.
The brothers David Alan and Charles Stevenson designed this iconic landmark. The Northern Lighthouse Board oversaw construction. They chose Messrs D & J MacDougall of Oban as the contractors. James MacBeth supervised the building works. The lighthouse’s construction was a major undertaking. It cost over £11000. The lantern and parapet came from A C Westwood. Dove & Co provided the rotating mechanism and fog signal machinery. Chance Bros made the diamond incandescent burner.
The light finally shone on April 15 1914. The Bahama Bank Lightship a vessel which previously served the area was retired. The original Fresnel lens a first order masterpiece still exists. It produced three flashes every 30 seconds. This system remained in use until 1983. Then a 250-watt mercury vapor burner replaced the paraffin vapor one. The original clockwork drive was cleverly kept.
Maughold Lighthouse’s fog signal was just as important. First heard on April 16 1914 it was initially powered by Dove & Co equipment. Later Kelvin diesel engines and Alley & Maclelan compressors took over. The fog signal fell silent in 1987. Complete automation arrived in 1993. Remote monitoring from Edinburgh kept the light shining. The clockwork mechanism was switched to an electric motor.
Today Maughold Lighthouse is a testament to engineering skill. Its tower stands 75 feet tall. It contains 87 steps leading to the lantern room. The lighthouse keeper’s quarters were separate. They were linked by an external staircase of 128 steps. This impressive lighthouse continues to guide ships. It’s a symbol of maritime history and the ingenuity of the Stevenson brothers.