Wolf Rock

Wolf Rock Lighthouse is on the Wolf Rock, a single rock located 15km miles east of St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly and 15km southwest of Land’s End, in Cornwall. During storms, he fissures in the rock produce a howling sound like that of a howling wolf.

The story of an aid to navigation to mark the Wolf Rock originated with a man called Henry Smith’s and his to build a lighthouse on the rock in 1791. Smith found the task too daunting and finally constructed a wrought iron mast six metres high and ten centimetres in diameter, complete with six stays and surmounted by a metal model of a wolf on the rock. This unlighted daymark was erected in 1795 and was less substantial than he perhaps hoped. Within days the Atlantic had carried it away.

In 1861 work commenced on a granite tower designed by Trinity House consultant engineer James Walker, following the lines of Smeaton’s Eddystone tower.

The tower was completed on 19 July 1869 and the light was brought into service early in the following year.

The lighthouse achieved worldwide publicity in 1972 as the first rock lighthouse to have a helideck constructed on top of the lantern housing.