Great video. Lovely photo of you in your uniform. Must need good head for heights for the heli-pad, I would be on hands and knees. But crumbs, photo climbing up those rungs all that way from the base to the entrance door, which keepers would face on rock lights. Had not considered that before. Sad and seems strange to upgrade kitchen only at time of automation, shame not earlier. Considering when built, those rock lights are an incredible achievement of the labourers and stonemasons.
I agree with almost everything you say there but I'm not brill at heights either! It's something I've gotten used too, and after a while I seem ok with it but now and then I've had to really bite the bullet to get my video shot, especially the storm sequence looking down the Wolf rock Lighthouse where I crawled out into the safety net and yikes! Thanks for the comments, stay safe
Wonderful videos that capture the beauty and isolation of these great structures. Back in 1947 BBC radio reporters were stranded on the Bishop for 29 days by bad weather.
Thank you for the kind words. Yes, the BBC being stranded really highlighted what those older Keepers went through regularly when they did the reliefs by boat, cheers and stay safe.
These have to be up there with the most atmospheric videos on yt. I could watch your channel all day. I’ve been to Isles of Scilly lots of times but never taken a boat ride to the lighthouse - I’ll do it next time!
Thank you for the kind words, I too would love to do a boat ride back out to the Bishop. I nearly got there once again but I arrived during a mass "Twitcher" invasion, so no boats went out to the Bishop, only taking the bird watchers to different islands to tick off another bird on their lists, ah well, next time maybe, stay safe.
Hi Peter Thanks for your reply re Trevose, how sad I remember my brother in law and rest of the family taking me before I could drive and having to pay the toll fee to go up to Trevose. How sad that all these lighthouses are now automated time moves on but just wonder if it is much better! Thanks once again and will look forward to seeing the Trevose video.
Hi Peter,another brilliant video.This is my second favourite lighthouse, the Royal Sovereign being the first.(as I live in Hastings) Unlike the Sovereign that is being dismantled soon the Bishops Rock has been allowed to stand the test of time.No crumbling concrete just solid granite. Take care and kindest regards Mick.
Yes and I noticed the difference coming ashore from a tower out to sea. It took me a couple of days to get used to walking in a straight line!, cheers.
I am amazed that lighthouse is still standing after all this time and battering it must have taken over the years, it’s an incredible build strength. I must admit I could get attached to being in there with the peace and quiet. Really enjoyed your video.
Hi peter . Really enjoying see all your vedios there amazing . Thank you 4 sharing . Any off the longships , and more wolf rock ones ? . Be in at Ives next week will visit the lands end area as u all ways do and think as I gaze out to sea the amazing times u must have had . Thanks again . Steve . Gloucester.
Hi Stephen No more Wolf ones but there will be one of the Longships, but it is one of those ones where I only had a few hours visit on board, cheers. Take care.
UA-cam recommended this video to me and I have to admit I was sad to see this lighthouse forgotten. We Conquered An Abandoned Island! Flat Holm ---- Samandjessexplore
What a coincidence, I've only recently watched the Flatholm movie!. This was on my list to video before I was made redundant as a Lighthouse Keeper all those years ago, but I ran out of time. I was all set to visit and tour the Island and Lighthouse this Spring before the dreaded Pandemic scuppered that one for the time being. Stay safe, cheers.
@@PeterHalil Thanks Peter, are these lighthouses completely abandoned just left to the elements? or are they maintained in anyway? or even used for any other purpose?
@@neildelaney5199 They are still operating as Lighthouses. They get maintenance visits every now and then, but not sure of the frequency of the visits, every few months at a guess, but they wont be getting the TLC that they had when manned by Keepers, cheers, stay safe.
A fascinating video, so glad I found this channel - this video was taken only a couple of years after I was born! What was the purpose of updating the kitchen after it was automated? Did people still stay there initally? Also, what do you think the inside will be like today? Given the cost and effort of moving things into the lighthouse, I assume it will almost be like a time capsule! (except the electronics which will have been updated no doubt).
Thank you for that, Yes that was a big contention with us that they let us live in relative poor conditions, then when they removed us, everything seemed to be renewed? Yes they have techies still going out every now and then to service the bits, but the vast majority of time , they are empty. We haven't had the opportunity to revisit to see what they are like now. Take care.
@@PeterHalil Thank you for the reply. Such a shame that you are the last generation of lighthouse keeper, but it is fantastic that you documented them in such detail when you could. It is a huge shame you haven't had the opportunity to return, I hope that one day this may be possible (if you wanted of course!).
Great video. Curious though, why did they renew the kitchen/living area AFTER automation? And new engines etc? I'm glad they did, even if it's not being used, it's nice that it's been 'preserved' (if it's still like that now). Do you know why they did that? It's a shame they automated them, I would have loved that job!
Every time I see one of your vids on an inaccessible lighthouse, I just marvel at the building of the things, especially in the nineteenth century. I don't have much construction experience, but I have installed some big machines in odd places, and even on land with modern technology moving big machines and systems can be HARD. Just don't know how they managed. Heck, a lot of the mill works and factory equipment of the period would be a heck of a job to install today with a giant crane and a team of riggers. Something like the walking beams for the Kew Bridge engine, just. . . How?! One of these days I'm going to do some research into it, and probably get seriously humbled.
I will leave a link below of Beachy Head Lighthouse on the South coast. It isn't technically out to sea, but will give you an idea what they did to build some of these lights way back, hope you like it, stay safe. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5111787/Photographs-construction-light-house.html
Exactly what one conjure's-up when thinking of a classic lighthouse. Were these type, with their lack of space inside and out, considered less favourable to do a stint on? Also were your rotations shorter in duration because of it?
Before I joined it was 2 months on followed by one month off on these towers. When I joined it had changed to one month on and one month off. Land stations were mainly different as regards most were where your family also lived, so there you just had annual leave like most normal folks do. A lot of Keepers loved the tower rocks because of the extra time off I guess. I loved them mainly because it felt more like being a Lighthouse Keeper.The Bishop rock and the Eddystone were big towers with more room than most, so I guess Keepers liked being on them more. Towers like the Wolf and Longships were known for big seas and not lots of room inside. But what some Keepers hated, others loved. Cheers, take care.
@@PeterHalil Thank you for your reply, AND for the continued uploads Peter! I can imagine these type being good to work on.. they seem to capture the romance of the job somehow more than the land based ones. Especially when a storm rolls in. Cheers!
Thanks so much for all your videos Peter. I have taken many boat trips to the Bishop, but never seen inside. I remember when it was manned and the keepers sent down the winch for newspapers and post etc. Sadly I didn't see the Doll lol😂 My favourite lighthouse. It must have taken some nerves during a bad storm? What was your hobby whilst you were on the Bishop or another Tower? Kind regards joe
Hi Joe, Thank you for your kind comments. I only managed to see the Bishop from the boat once. The rest was by helicopter. As for hobbies, I was more into reading until a few years before the end, when it was video making and taking photos. Thanks again and stay safe.
I do have loads of "snaps", and if I have time, I put some at the end of videos, but I focused mainly on videoing when on those very short visits. cheers and take care.
Hi Peter I don't suppose you have any video of Trevose Head Lighthouse Cornwall? I used to visit this on open days back in the late 60's and 70's Like I say great videos that you produce Regards Chris
Hi Chris, Thank you, yes I do but it wont be uploaded yet as it is earmarked for later next year. The reason being, my last two lighthouses I served on before redundancy was Trevose, then the Lizard. I filmed Trevose during its automation where Trinity House decided to get rid of the lovely engine room, so I filmed the destruction of that, one of the casualties of progress I guess, cheers and stay safe
Thank you for these fantastic videos. I discovered them recently and am watching through them all. I would love to know how well preserved Trinity House keep the interiors these days. Do you know if the Bishop still has fuel and an engine or does it have an undersea mains supply these days?
Hi William, I believe that our Lighthouse now are solar and LED lit, I don't know if they have an engine any more as least as a back up. The only Lighthouse that I know of ours that had an undersea cable when automated was the Needles on the Isle of Wight.
Amanda, this is where I say "Pardon?", yes they seem to be on video, but at the time it was something we really didn't notice too much.Thanks and stay safe.
Great video! I was just reading the Wikipedia page about this lighthouse and it says it holds the record for smallest island with a building on which is cool were you ever stationed at this one? thanks
Me Too!, no there is a fair amount to go yet, and hopefully before the end I will be able to visit a few that I missed, if the dreaded pandemic goes away long enough so these visits will be allowed.
What great videos of lighthouses always had a fascination for them thanks
Thank you Chris, glad you like them, cheers and stay safe
Another great video Peter. That sudden look over the side and downwards about 3/4 into it gave me a start for a second.
Thank you David, I'm only brave looking over the edge of Lighthouses because of the sturdy guard rails, take care.
Great video. Lovely photo of you in your uniform. Must need good head for heights for the heli-pad, I would be on hands and knees. But crumbs, photo climbing up those rungs all that way from the base to the entrance door, which keepers would face on rock lights. Had not considered that before. Sad and seems strange to upgrade kitchen only at time of automation, shame not earlier. Considering when built, those rock lights are an incredible achievement of the labourers and stonemasons.
I agree with almost everything you say there but I'm not brill at heights either!
It's something I've gotten used too, and after a while I seem ok with it but now and then I've had to really bite the bullet to get my video shot, especially the storm sequence looking down the Wolf rock Lighthouse where I crawled out into the safety net and yikes! Thanks for the comments, stay safe
Thanks Peter. I am in awe of the logistics for the moving and installing of the engines, lantern etc.
Yes, they certainly knew what they were doing there. A lot of effort and thought went into it all. Stay safe.
Brilliant i have been looking forward to one of your fine vids and this is another gem
Thank you River, more coming. take care.
Thanks for sharing Peter, Very grateful to you for sharing your experiences with us. 👌
Thank you for that, and I'm enjoying the process too, take care.
Excellent to the narrative and details. thank you sir !
Thank you Ed, much appreciated, cheers.
Hi Peter looking at the damage to those entrance Doors brings home the Power of the sea. Cheers
Yes, especially when you see how high up that entrance door is/was, stay safe.
Thank you Peter. Great video.
Thank you Doug, glad you liked it, stay safe.
Wonderful videos that capture the beauty and isolation of these great structures. Back in 1947 BBC radio reporters were stranded on the Bishop for 29 days by bad weather.
Thank you for the kind words. Yes, the BBC being stranded really highlighted what those older Keepers went through regularly when they did the reliefs by boat, cheers and stay safe.
These have to be up there with the most atmospheric videos on yt. I could watch your channel all day. I’ve been to Isles of Scilly lots of times but never taken a boat ride to the lighthouse - I’ll do it next time!
Thank you for the kind words, I too would love to do a boat ride back out to the Bishop. I nearly got there once again but I arrived during a mass "Twitcher" invasion, so no boats went out to the Bishop, only taking the bird watchers to different islands to tick off another bird on their lists, ah well, next time maybe, stay safe.
Hi Peter Thanks for your reply re Trevose, how sad I remember my brother in law and rest of the family taking me before I could drive and having to pay the toll fee to go up to Trevose. How sad that all these lighthouses are now automated time moves on but just wonder if it is much better! Thanks once again and will look forward to seeing the Trevose video.
Hi Peter,another brilliant video.This is my second favourite lighthouse, the Royal Sovereign being the first.(as I live in Hastings)
Unlike the Sovereign that is being dismantled soon the Bishops Rock has been allowed to stand the test of time.No crumbling concrete just solid granite.
Take care and kindest regards
Mick.
Thank you Mick, Yes the Bishop has that air of solidness about it. I like that Tower a lot. Cheers and you take care too.
@@PeterHalil Thank for the reply Peter.All the best.👍
So different to Lundy everything towered up even the bedrooms😂💜another great insight thank you.
Yes and I noticed the difference coming ashore from a tower out to sea. It took me a couple of days to get used to walking in a straight line!, cheers.
Peter Halil that’s funny like being at sea and you have to find your land legs again 🤗💙
Brilliant vlog Peter,thank you 😁👍👏👏👏
Cheers David, much appreciated, stay safe.
I am amazed that lighthouse is still standing after all this time and battering it must have taken over the years, it’s an incredible build strength. I must admit I could get attached to being in there with the peace and quiet.
Really enjoyed your video.
Thank you for that, yes you have to trust those Victorian engineers to do a job properly. Stay safe.
Thank you! Must be hard to moor on a windy day!
The boatmen were ace at their job thanks
It's a bloody grim place to be stuck for a month or more.
Thanks, Peter.
In hindsight?, no I loved the place. take care, cheers
Hi peter . Really enjoying see all your vedios there amazing . Thank you 4 sharing . Any off the longships , and more wolf rock ones ? . Be in at Ives next week will visit the lands end area as u all ways do and think as I gaze out to sea the amazing times u must have had . Thanks again . Steve . Gloucester.
Hi Stephen No more Wolf ones but there will be one of the Longships, but it is one of those ones where I only had a few hours visit on board, cheers. Take care.
Thanks for reply . Look forward to seeing that . And thanks again for all you do .
Amazing!! I’d love to get the chance to visit
In the meantime I will keep the video visits coming, stay safe, cheers.
UA-cam recommended this video to me and I have to admit I was sad to see this lighthouse forgotten. We Conquered An Abandoned Island! Flat Holm ---- Samandjessexplore
What a coincidence, I've only recently watched the Flatholm movie!. This was on my list to video before I was made redundant as a Lighthouse Keeper all those years ago, but I ran out of time.
I was all set to visit and tour the Island and Lighthouse this Spring before the dreaded Pandemic scuppered that one for the time being.
Stay safe, cheers.
Only the English would place a commemorative stone where no one would ever see it, seriously though another great film, thank you
Yes Neil, there are quite a few of those dotted around empty Lighthouses now. Thanks, glad you liked it, stay safe.
@@PeterHalil Thanks Peter, are these lighthouses completely abandoned just left to the elements? or are they maintained in anyway? or even used for any other purpose?
@@neildelaney5199 They are still operating as Lighthouses. They get maintenance visits every now and then, but not sure of the frequency of the visits, every few months at a guess, but they wont be getting the TLC that they had when manned by Keepers, cheers, stay safe.
A fascinating video, so glad I found this channel - this video was taken only a couple of years after I was born! What was the purpose of updating the kitchen after it was automated? Did people still stay there initally? Also, what do you think the inside will be like today? Given the cost and effort of moving things into the lighthouse, I assume it will almost be like a time capsule! (except the electronics which will have been updated no doubt).
Thank you for that, Yes that was a big contention with us that they let us live in relative poor conditions, then when they removed us, everything seemed to be renewed?
Yes they have techies still going out every now and then to service the bits, but the vast majority of time , they are empty.
We haven't had the opportunity to revisit to see what they are like now. Take care.
@@PeterHalil Thank you for the reply. Such a shame that you are the last generation of lighthouse keeper, but it is fantastic that you documented them in such detail when you could. It is a huge shame you haven't had the opportunity to return, I hope that one day this may be possible (if you wanted of course!).
Great video. Curious though, why did they renew the kitchen/living area AFTER automation? And new engines etc? I'm glad they did, even if it's not being used, it's nice that it's been 'preserved' (if it's still like that now). Do you know why they did that? It's a shame they automated them, I would have loved that job!
Every time I see one of your vids on an inaccessible lighthouse, I just marvel at the building of the things, especially in the nineteenth century. I don't have much construction experience, but I have installed some big machines in odd places, and even on land with modern technology moving big machines and systems can be HARD. Just don't know how they managed. Heck, a lot of the mill works and factory equipment of the period would be a heck of a job to install today with a giant crane and a team of riggers. Something like the walking beams for the Kew Bridge engine, just. . . How?! One of these days I'm going to do some research into it, and probably get seriously humbled.
I will leave a link below of Beachy Head Lighthouse on the South coast. It isn't technically out to sea, but will give you an idea what they did to build some of these lights way back, hope you like it, stay safe.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5111787/Photographs-construction-light-house.html
I don’t know why but the clip passing it in the helicopter reminded me of the clips when people passed over Chernobyl when it blew up
Scary place to be in a storm. No land just water. Have any of these toppled over in a storm??
Not yet!, no they are really over engineered, I would feel safer in those than any modern type buildings. Stay safe.
Exactly what one conjure's-up when thinking of a classic lighthouse.
Were these type, with their lack of space inside and out, considered less favourable to do a stint on? Also were your rotations shorter in duration because of it?
Before I joined it was 2 months on followed by one month off on these towers. When I joined it had changed to one month on and one month off. Land stations were mainly different as regards most were where your family also lived, so there you just had annual leave like most normal folks do. A lot of Keepers loved the tower rocks because of the extra time off I guess. I loved them mainly because it felt more like being a Lighthouse Keeper.The Bishop rock and the Eddystone were big towers with more room than most, so I guess Keepers liked being on them more. Towers like the Wolf and Longships were known for big seas and not lots of room inside. But what some Keepers hated, others loved. Cheers, take care.
@@PeterHalil Thank you for your reply, AND for the continued uploads Peter!
I can imagine these type being good to work on.. they seem to capture the romance of the job somehow more than the land based ones. Especially when a storm rolls in. Cheers!
@@lefroy1 Cheers.
Thanks so much for all your videos Peter.
I have taken many boat trips to the Bishop, but never seen inside.
I remember when it was manned and the keepers sent down the winch for newspapers and post etc.
Sadly I didn't see the Doll lol😂
My favourite lighthouse. It must have taken some nerves during a bad storm?
What was your hobby whilst you were on the Bishop or another Tower?
Kind regards joe
Hi Joe, Thank you for your kind comments. I only managed to see the Bishop from the boat once. The rest was by helicopter. As for hobbies, I was more into reading until a few years before the end, when it was video making and taking photos.
Thanks again and stay safe.
I liked the still shots at the end, especially seeing you hoisted aboard. Do you have many photographs from the 80's?
I do have loads of "snaps", and if I have time, I put some at the end of videos, but I focused mainly on videoing when on those very short visits. cheers and take care.
Hi Peter I don't suppose you have any video of Trevose Head Lighthouse Cornwall? I used to visit this on open days back in the late 60's and 70's Like I say great videos that you produce Regards Chris
Hi Chris, Thank you, yes I do but it wont be uploaded yet as it is earmarked for later next year. The reason being, my last two lighthouses I served on before redundancy was Trevose, then the Lizard. I filmed Trevose during its automation where Trinity House decided to get rid of the lovely engine room, so I filmed the destruction of that, one of the casualties of progress I guess, cheers and stay safe
Thank you for these fantastic videos. I discovered them recently and am watching through them all. I would love to know how well preserved Trinity House keep the interiors these days. Do you know if the Bishop still has fuel and an engine or does it have an undersea mains supply these days?
Hi William, I believe that our Lighthouse now are solar and LED lit, I don't know if they have an engine any more as least as a back up. The only Lighthouse that I know of ours that had an undersea cable when automated was the Needles on the Isle of Wight.
How on earth did they build the helipad? It would have to be very strong too. Do you know when it was done?
It was done in 1976 and I would love to see a video of how they did it on you tube, so far haven't found one.
So interesting ! - lighthouses are very noisy places
Amanda, this is where I say "Pardon?", yes they seem to be on video, but at the time it was something we really didn't notice too much.Thanks and stay safe.
Great video!
I was just reading the Wikipedia page about this lighthouse and it says it holds the record for smallest island with a building on which is cool
were you ever stationed at this one? thanks
Yes I was stationed on this one, but I didn't have a video then, which was a great shame. take care
@@PeterHalil thank you
Thanks for sharing.
How high did the waves sometimes get in storms? Must’ve been quite scary!
Hi, Never scared, apprehensive the first time yes but the Victorians knew how to build. I've seen waves reach 2/3rds up the tower, cheers.
How on earth do you get water out there?
It used to come by boat, but since the helicopter, it is delivered as an under slung load in rubber pillow tanks.
@@PeterHalil 👍 thx
That life seems appealingly simple...
@@ulflyng Yes it was , very nice indeed, cheers.
how is it there now ? in 2021 ?
The electric fog speaker sounds like the wail of a banshee.
Yes, doesn't sound anything like the old one, cheers
I'm almost afraid you are going to run out of videos😲
Me Too!, no there is a fair amount to go yet, and hopefully before the end I will be able to visit a few that I missed, if the dreaded pandemic goes away long enough so these visits will be allowed.
Woah.....some liberal youtube algorithm of something to watch......and I liked it....once in a blue moon👍👍👍 Hello from Virginia US of A
Hi Carlos, Hi US of A, Glad you liked the movie, take care and stay safe.