south stack lighthouse ynys lawd
South Stack Lighthouse was the first lighthouse to be built on Anglesey. At a cost of £12,000, in 1809 and was built on the summit of Ynys Lawd a small rocky Island which is situated on Holy Island, to the North West of Anglesey.
The first attempt to get a lighthouse built here was in 1665, King Charles I received a petition for a patent to erect a lighthouse, the patent was not granted and seafarers would have to wait several hundred years until 1809 when the very first light was used to highlight this dangerous part of Anglesey.
Trinity House surveyor and architect Daniel Alexander drew up the plans and in 1808 construction started, nine months later, and the South Stack Lighthouse was completed. The project was overseen by Captain Evans, who had been a determined campaigner for a lighthouse at this location.
Prior to 1828 the only access to the Lighthouse at Ynys Lawd was in a basket which was suspended on a hemp cable. From 1828 an iron suspension bridge was built which made life so much easier for stores and the Lighthouse keepers to get to Ynys Lawd.
In 1964 the suspension bridge was replaced, but in 1983 the bridge was closed to the public for safety reasons. In 1997 a new bridge was built out of aluminium and the iconic Lighthouse was reopened to the public.
In 1964 the suspension bridge was replaced, but in 1983 the bridge was closed to the public for safety reasons. In 1997 a new bridge was built out of aluminium and the iconic Lighthouse was reopened to the public.
Walk down 400 Steps
To access Ynys Lawd you must first descend down over 400 steps, then at the bottom you cross a small metal bridge, then you climb more steps up the lighthouse as part of a guided tour.
Once inside you can then see the exhibition about the history of South Stack Lighthouse. Please note that tickets can only be purchased from the BOTTOM of the 400 steps and you can only pay by CASH!!
South Stack lighthouse automated
On 12th September, 1984 South Stack Lighthouse was automated and the last of the lighthouse keepers were retired from there. The lighthouse is now controlled from the Trinity House Control Center in Harwich, Essex.
