Point of Ayre Lighthouse is situated at Point of Ayre, by Ramsey Bay, in the northeastern end Isle of Man. The name of the area is derived from the Norse word Eyrr, meaning ‘gravelly beach’.
Point of Ayre was lit by the dioptric (refraction) method. The light revolved on roller bearings driven by a clockwork mechanism, which was operated by a weight lowered to the base of the tower. This had to be rewound manually, and the frequency at which rewinds were required was governed by the revolution character of the optic and the height of the tower. This varied from 45 minutes at Maughold Head, 77 ft high and turning every 30 seconds, to 90 minutes at the Point of Ayre which had an eight minute revolution.
Thirteen selected lighthouses sent regular reports to the Meteorological Office as many of the stations were vanguards to the Atlantic weather system. Point of Ayre submitted three hourly reports to the Met Office at Ronaldsway, and these were incorporated in the international broadcasts.
History
1815: At a meeting of the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses, Sheriff Rae highlighted representations received from the Chief Magistrate of Greenock and various trading bodies in the Firth of Clyde proposing that a light be established on the Point of Ayre. As this area was out of the Commissioners’ jurisdiction, it was suggested that Rae write to the Duke of Atholl.
The Light Committee then recommended that the Commissioners apply to Parliament for power to erect a lighthouse on the Isle of Man. The Bill was passed in July 1815, and soon after, a party representing the Commissioners went to Liverpool to obtain a loan from the trade associations. The loan was necessary as the Commissioners had become liable for a large sum to liquidate the payment of the purchase money of the private right of the Portland family to the duties of the Light of May, and were also involved in the building of the Bell Rock Lighthouse.
Loans amounting to £1,500 were obtained from the West India Association and the Shipowners Association of Liverpool, and further loans were obtained from the Trade Association of the Clyde who would also benefit from the establishment of the light.
The lighthouse was engineered by Robert Stevenson and work commenced late in 1815, but the lack of sufficient funds made progress slow. A further cause for delay was that the position of the light had to be altered from the original plan as it was found that the sea was eroding the coast at the rate of 7ft per year.
1818-19: The precise date that the light was first shown cannot be accurately fixed, but it is known to have been between December 1818 and February 1819.
In favourable wind conditions, the fog horn could be heard at the Mull of Galloway, 26 miles away. Powered by Kelvin engines, the siren used an intermittent escape of compressed air through a shutter to give a periodic blast from the large horns facing seaward.
c.1888: An additional small tower, known as the Winkie, was built 250 yards seaward from the main tower.
1951: Due to continuous gravel build-up, the smaller tower was repositioned a further 250 feet seaward, and now stands on the gravel bank.
1993: Point of Ayre lighthouse was automated.
2005: The fog signal was decommissioned.
2010: The three General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) of the UK and Ireland issued a consultation document, following a joint review of Aids to Navigation of the coasts of the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Review addressed the current and future requirements of national and international shipping and those of Mariners. Each Aid to Navigation – light, buoy or beacon – was studied in isolation, as well as in relation to the other Aids to Navigation in its vicinity. As a result of this review it was agreed that the minor light at the Point of Ayre, The Winkie would be permanently discontinued, with effect from 7 April 2010.