St Agnes Lighthouse, 17th-century lighthouse on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, England.
St Agnes Lighthouse is a round stone tower on the island of St Agnes in the Scilly Isles that rises about 74 feet (23 meters) above ground and features gun ports and casement windows. An upper level with a cupola was added later to improve visibility of the light signal.
Trinity House built this lighthouse in 1680 after receiving permission to establish navigation aids, because sea charts of the time had these islands marked in the wrong location. The tower was a response to the danger of shipwrecks along this notoriously treacherous coast.
The lighthouse stands as a reminder of how people once tried to make these dangerous waters safer for ships. Today it shows how important this remote island group was for maritime trade in the Atlantic.
The lighthouse sits on a remote island and requires a boat journey from the main island to reach it. Access inside is limited, but you can walk around the exterior from different angles and enjoy views of the surrounding sea and nearby islands.
The tower has four gun ports on its first level, an unusual feature among British lighthouses. These defensive elements show the location was historically meant to protect against pirates and enemy vessels.
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