Press Releases

HRH The Princess Royal officially opens the Lizard Lighthouse Heritage Centre

13/07/2009

Mainland UK's most southerly visitor attraction, the Lizard Lighthouse Heritage Centre was officially opened today (13 July) by HRH The Princess Royal.

During the mid-morning ceremony, The Princess Royal visited the new Heritage Centre at the Trinity House owned and maintained Lizard lighthouse site, inspected the operational lighthouse, viewed a holiday cottage and met many of the people involved in the development of the new Heritage Centre, former keepers and local people. Her Royal Highness, who is an Elder Brother of Trinity House, then unveiled a plinth, made from locally sourced granite, to commemorate the occasion.

Also present was Landewednack CP School. Year six pupil Torla Lyne, accompanied by year 1's Rudy Donovan, presented Her Royal Highness with a posy.

Trinity House's Executive Chairman, Rear Admiral Sir Jeremy de Halpert, commented, "We are highly honoured The Princess Royal has officially opened the Lizard Lighthouse Heritage Centre. This Heritage Centre is a testament to the centuries of hard work and excellence many, many people have undertaken on behalf of Trinity House to ensure the safety of mariners as they navigate the busy seas around our coastline. I am so pleased to see some former lighthouse keepers associated with the Lizard present today, as well as members of the team who continue to promote safety at sea on a daily basis and develop new and increasingly more efficient methods for the future.

"We are also very grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the award of a generous grant that, together with additional funding from the Trinity House educational charity arm, facilitated the project. Without this funding we would not have been able to provide a fitting and lasting testimonial to the critical contribution made by lighthouses and lighthouse keepers to the safety of mariners and to safeguarding trade.

"One thing is for certain," Sir Jeremy continued, "the methods of helping mariners navigate their way safely and expeditiously around our dangerous coasts are changing, and will continue to do so as technological developments permit. However, Trinity House will continue to ensure that we use our skills and experience to provide the most efficient and cost effective mix of aids to navigation for the benefit and safety of all mariners."

Notes To Editors

Lizard Lighthouse Heritage Centre
Since completion of the automation programme in 1998 Trinity House has been seeking to create a lasting testimonial to the contribution that both lighthouses and lighthouse keepers have made to the safety of navigation and of mariners. Many Trinity House lighthouses are open to the public but space restrictions mean that the focus is usually on what is happening today rather than demonstrating the evolution of lighthouses over time.

The now redundant former fog signal engine room at the Lizard provided the opportunity to house this story that forms a critical element in the history of Britain as an island nation. However, the monies available to Trinity House through the collection of Light Dues are for the provision and maintenance of current aids to navigation. In 2007 Trinity House made a successful application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a grant to create what has become the Lizard Lighthouse Heritage Centre. The HLF grant provided the bulk of the necessary funding but the Trinity House charity also provided grant money. The Trinity House monies were directed towards the educational elements of the project.

Following the approval of the HLF, an in-house team was formed to oversee the development. Using, as far as possible, local suppliers work started on site in September 2008 and continued throughout the autumn and winter with completion on time and on budget by the end of March 2009.

The Lizard Lighthouse Heritage Centre opened its doors on 6 April 2009.

The official opening by The Princess Royal took place in front of an invited audience of those Trinity House personnel involved in the project, the various suppliers and contractors, former lighthouse keepers, local representatives, members of the Board of Trinity House and local dignitaries and representatives. Pupils and teachers from Landewednack CP School were also there to welcome The Princess Royal.

Aside from the Heritage Centre, there are six holiday cottages on site. For more information about these please visit www.cornishcottagesonline.com.

Trinity House
Trinity House is the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) for England and Wales, with responsibility for nearly 600 Aids to Navigation, from traditional aids such as lighthouses, buoys and beacons to the latest satellite navigation technology. In addition it inspects over 10,000 local Aids to Navigation provided by port and harbour authorities, and those positioned on offshore structures.

Incorporated by Royal Charter in 1514, the Corporation is also a major maritime charity, wholly funded by its endowments. The Corporation spends around m each year on its charitable activities including welfare of mariners, education and training, the promotion of safety at sea, and its role as a Deep Sea Pilotage Authority.

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