The Maidens lighthouses, Two offshore lighthouses in County Antrim, Northern Ireland
The Maidens lighthouses are two separate towers standing on rocks in the North Channel off the coast of County Antrim. The East Tower reaches about 94 feet in height while the West Tower stands at about 84 feet.
Both towers were built in 1829 by the Ballast Board after local merchants and Admiral Benjamin Hallowell Carew requested better navigation aids in the area. This construction marked an important step forward for maritime safety in the region.
The two towers once housed lighthouse keepers and their families who lived on the isolated rocks year-round in a tight maritime community. This way of life faded away as automation transformed the role of such stations.
The towers stand on rocks in the sea and can only be reached by water, making them inaccessible from land. Plan for a boat trip if you want to view them up close from the surrounding waters.
The West Tower was decommissioned in 1903 while the East Tower was not automated until 1977, marking the end of human keepers at the site. This staggered transition shows how technology gradually transformed lighthouse operations over several decades.
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