Following a complaint by the shipping owner Lord Inverclyde that a number of ships had foundered as a result of poor maritime signalling near the Whitestone Bank, and that a fog signal should be built at Maughold Head, the need for a new lighthouse was raised in 1909 by the Commissioners of Northern Light Houses. Trinity House stated that there was already a fog and light signal established on the Bahama Bank Lightship nearby. But after further discussion, and with the support of the Board of Trade they approved the works for a lightstation to be built on Maughold Head.[2]
Designed by Charles and David, two brothers from the notable Stevenson lighthouse engineering family, it consists of a 23 metre high masonry tower, with the lighthouse keepers accommodation built on the headland above at the same level as the lantern. A set of 127 steps links the tower to the keeper's cottage.
The optic was supplied by Chance Brothers of Smethwick, the fog signal and other ancillary equipment by Dove & Co of Edinburgh. The 1st order Fresnel lens is still in use.[2]
Maughold Head Lighthouse became operational on 15 April 1914, and the Bahama Bank Lightship was subsequently taken out of service.[2]
With a focal height of 65 metres (213 ft) above the sea, the light has a nominal range of 15 nautical miles,[4] and has a characteristic of three flashes of white light every thirty seconds. The fog signal, which formed the major part of justification for the station, produced a single blast every 90 seconds. It was deactivated in 1987.[1][2]
Following automation in 1993, the former keeper's cottages were converted into bed and breakfast holiday accommodation, they were later sold in 2014 for a guide price of £600,000.[1]
The light and tower continues to be maintained by the Northern Lighthouse Board, and is registered under the international Admiralty number A4786 and has the NGA identifier of 114–5036.[1]
