Hook Head Lighthouse

I spent six and a half hours driving in the pouring rain to go to Hook Head and back just to try and get some shots. It was the only day i could get away and of course it opened the heavens.
All shot with k5iis and pentax f 28mm.
I really really got soaked, but i thoroughly enjoyed the experience, not least trying to avoid being blown away with the golf umbrella that sheltered the camera

The history bit.

It is the oldest working lighthouse in the world, apparently,
1210-1230
The tower of Hook was built by Marshal as a landmark & light tower to guide shipping to his port of Ross. The light was provided by a coal fire beacon. The many skilled castle builders employed by the Pembroke estate provided the necessary expertise. A large number of locals must have been employed on the construction.
1240’s
The first historical references to the tower in the records of the Pembroke estate shows that the monks from Churchtown had been installed as custodians (light keepers). Thirty acres of land near the tower were reserved for the use of the light keepers. Still known as “the tower lands”, they now belong to Loftus Hall. The monks presumably continued as custodians for several centuries, probably until the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII in 1540. By the 17th Century, the light was no longer tended and numerous shipwrecks led to calls from sailors & merchants for the light to be restored.
1670’s
Hook tower (along with five others around the coast) was restored by Robert Readinge. He erected the first glass lantern to protect the coal fire beacon from the elements. Further improvements were carried out in the early 1700’s
1706
In the late 1600’s, the tower passed into the posession of the Loftus family. In 1706, Henry Loftus leased the tower to the authorites for £11 per annum. The ground floor was used as a coal store but later in the century it was used by the military as a magazine for storing gunpowder.
1791
Following repeated complaints from mariners about the poor condition of the light, the coal fire was eventually replaced in 1791 by a lamp burning whale oil.
1810
In this year the tower was handed over to the Corporation for Preserving & Improving the Port of Dublin and £4,280 was spent on a new apparatus.
1860’s
The lantern was given its present shape. Three dwellings were built for the light keepers & their families. Three red bands were painted on the tower, these were later changed to black and the bands reduced to two.
1867
The body in charge of lighthouses became known as the Commissioners of Irish Lights.
1871
New gas lights were installed in this year, powered by gas manufactured in the gas yard. Paraffin oil subsequently became the source of power.
1911
A clockwork mechanism was installed to change the beacon from a fixed to a flashing light. The mechanism had to be wound up every 25 minutes.
1972
The light switched over to electricity.
1996
The Lighthouse was automated and the light keepers departed after almost 800 years. As well as the light a fog signal is operated at the lighthouse. For centuries a cannon gun was fired off the edge of the cliff during fog. This was replaced by a hooter, which in turn was replaced by rockets. In 1972 a foghorn worked by compressed air was installed.
2011
The foghorn was decommissioned in January.

A few shots,

An interesting bit of history that adds something to the photo's.
The first and last are my favourites.
Well done for your commitment in getting these pictures.

Nice shots, my favourites are 1 & 4. And thanks for the history, very interesting - I love history!

Interesting history, thank you Derek, and a nice set of photos. My preference here is for the colour images. Just one small point - the lighthouse doesn't look quite vertical, except perhaps in number 2.

Cheers.
Philip

Just one small point - the lighthouse doesn't look quite vertical, except perhaps in number 2.

Cheers.
Philip[/quote]You are right there is a bit of a tilt, I have corrected my originals. Thanks for the spot.
Derek

A good location and you've got some decent angles and captured the power of the sea ... Can hear the crashing and whooshing as I view them!

You were certainly a man on a mission there .... You were let down by the light unfortunately, there's not a great deal you could do with that light. Hopefully another opportunity will come along soon ....

Cheers Nigel, it was a case of I'm here now, i wasn't going to turn around and drive back with nothing. I didn't mind getting wet and it had the bonus of everyone else that was there were sitting in there cars or campers around the far side of the lighthouse.
There was something awesome about the wildness of it that was exhilarating, definitely worth a return visit in better weather.
Derek