Fog Signal Station
Flamborough Head Fog Signal Station.
In 1859 a fog signal station was built at some distance from the lighthouse, close to the cliff edge. Initially an 18-pound gun was used as the fog signal, sounded once every fifteen minutes. A cottage was built within the compound as accommodation for the gunners. In 1878, explosive rockets replaced the cannon, discharged every 10 minutes in foggy and reaching an altitude of 600 feet.
In 1908 an engine house was built next to the cottage and a fog siren replaced the rockets; it sounded one long and one short blast, every 90 seconds, through a pair of Rayleigh trumpets mounted on the engine room roof. Compressed air for the siren was provided by a pair of 22 hp Hornsby oil engines linked to a single-cylinder Hornsby compressor.
In 1924 the siren was replaced by a pair of diaphones, mounted in a metal turret on top of a porch added to the front of the engine house. This was itself superseded by an electric fog signal in 1975.
The fog signal compound remains in Trinity House ownership; along with the modern fog signal apparatus.
Fog Signal Station
Flamborough Head Fog Signal Station.
In 1859 a fog signal station was built at some distance from the lighthouse, close to the cliff edge. Initially an 18-pound gun was used as the fog signal, sounded once every fifteen minutes. A cottage was built within the compound as accommodation for the gunners. In 1878, explosive rockets replaced the cannon, discharged every 10 minutes in foggy and reaching an altitude of 600 feet.
In 1908 an engine house was built next to the cottage and a fog siren replaced the rockets; it sounded one long and one short blast, every 90 seconds, through a pair of Rayleigh trumpets mounted on the engine room roof. Compressed air for the siren was provided by a pair of 22 hp Hornsby oil engines linked to a single-cylinder Hornsby compressor.
In 1924 the siren was replaced by a pair of diaphones, mounted in a metal turret on top of a porch added to the front of the engine house. This was itself superseded by an electric fog signal in 1975.
The fog signal compound remains in Trinity House ownership; along with the modern fog signal apparatus.