Hook Lighthouse in Hook Peninsula , Co. Wexford.

Hook Lighthouse, which is one of the oldest in the world, was originally a 13th Century Norman structure built by William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, in 1245. The tower whish was 18m high and roughly 8.5m in diameter used an open fire at the top as the beacon. The tower and its grounds were under the guardianship of the Augustinian Priory in Ross until the dissolution of the monsteries under Henry VIII in the late 1530s.

From 1642 to 1665 the lighthouse was unused. Richard Reading, under instructions from Charles II, restored and lighthouse, increased its height to 24 metres, installed a spiral staircase and constructed an enclosed lantern to shelter the fire. The lighthouse was put back into use in 1667 and has remained active since then.

The lighthouse was fully automated in 1996.

In 2001 the light was opened to the public as a tourist attraction after construction of an attached visitors' center which is now one of the premier visitor attractions in the south east. The centre and lighthouse are open all year.


Image © Copyright Paul O'Farrell and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons.