Name and Location

The Newlyn Harbour South Pier Light marks the outer end of the south pier at Newlyn Harbour in Penzance, Cornwall, England. It serves as a navigational aid for vessels entering one of Britain's busiest fishing ports.

2. Construction and History

The exact year of construction is unknown, but it is likely to be from the late 19th or early 20th century. The light has been fully automated and monitored remotely since then, with no resident keeper stationed at the pier. It does not have a formal heritage listing.

3. Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse is a simple cylindrical steel tower mounted on a concrete base atop the pierhead. The structure stands 10 meters above mean high water and has a focal height of approximately 10 meters above mean sea level. The tower is painted white, while the base and pier are constructed from steel and concrete.

4. Light and Navigation

The Newlyn Harbour South Pier Light emits a flashing white light in a group of 1 + 4 every 5 seconds, with a range of 9 nautical miles. It is visible from 253° to 336° (true) and has a chart reference of NGA A 0038.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The south pier is open to the public at low tide and in calm weather via the harbour promenade. There is no charge or formal visitor centre, but nearby Newlyn Harbour offers cafes, slipways, fish markets, and small museum exhibits on local fishing heritage.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

From the foot of the pier, visitors can enjoy panoramic views across Mount's Bay, including the rugged coastline toward Penzance and Longrock, the waters of the bay dotted with fishing boats and pleasure craft, and (on clear days) vistas of St Michael's Mount and the Lizard Peninsula.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Newlyn Harbour has been a major fishing port since the 15th century, and the south pier light has guided generations of local fishermen home from offshore grounds. During severe winter storms, the light has remained operational, helping rescue vessels locate the mouth of the harbour.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is managed by the Duchy of Cornwall Harbour or Penzance Harbour Commissioners (exact authority unconfirmed). It continues to serve local fishing vessels, leisure craft, and small commercial boats entering Newlyn Harbour. The light is not equipped with AIS/Radar installations, but the area is covered by regional Coastguard radar/AIS.

9. Further Information

For further information on the lighthouse or surrounding area, refer to "Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals," UK Hydrographic Office, US NGA Pub. 114 (2011-05-26), Light List A 0038, Wikidata entry Q28465898, and OpenStreetMap relation: way/184065328.