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Bishop Rock

Island in Cornwall

England

Bishop Rock

Bishop Rock Lighthouse An isolated lighthouse as seen from St. Agnes. Like all such lighthouses it is now fully automated and unmanned.
Bishop Rock Lighthouse Credit: Malcolm Neal

Bishop Rock is a small rocky islet located in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 4 miles west of the Isles of Scilly in Cornwall, England. It is known for being the smallest island in the world to have a building on it. The rocky outcrop measures only 46 meters in length and 16 meters in width, making it an incredibly small landmass.

The most prominent feature of Bishop Rock is its iconic lighthouse. Standing at a height of 49 meters, it was designed by renowned engineer James Walker and constructed between 1847 and 1858. The lighthouse was built to warn ships of the treacherous rocks lurking beneath the surface, which had caused numerous shipwrecks in the past. It is a vital navigational aid for vessels passing through the English Channel.

The lighthouse itself is made of gray granite and features a cylindrical tower with a lantern room on top. It is fully automated and operated remotely from the Trinity House Operations Control Centre in Harwich, Essex. The lighthouse emits a white light every 10 seconds and can be seen up to 24 nautical miles away.

Due to its isolated location and limited space, Bishop Rock is not accessible to the public. It serves solely as a lighthouse and remains uninhabited. However, it is often photographed and admired from boats passing by, as it stands as a testament to the engineering ingenuity and the importance of maritime safety.

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Bishop Rock Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 49.872877/-6.4452998 or Grid Reference SV8006. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Bishop Rock Lighthouse An isolated lighthouse as seen from St. Agnes. Like all such lighthouses it is now fully automated and unmanned.
Bishop Rock Lighthouse
An isolated lighthouse as seen from St. Agnes. Like all such lighthouses it is now fully automated and unmanned.
Bishop Rock lighthouse
Bishop Rock lighthouse
Bishop Rock Lighthouse In the Guinness Book Of Records as the smallest island in the world with a building on it. The lighthouse was completed in 1858 and was manned until 1992. <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_Rock,_Isles_of_Scilly" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_Rock,_Isles_of_Scilly">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Bishop Rock Lighthouse
In the Guinness Book Of Records as the smallest island in the world with a building on it. The lighthouse was completed in 1858 and was manned until 1992. LinkExternal link
Bishop Rock lighthouse - Isles of Scilly These rocks are one of the most western parts of Britain. The lighthouse is famous for marking the end of transatlantic boat challenges.
Bishop Rock lighthouse - Isles of Scilly
These rocks are one of the most western parts of Britain. The lighthouse is famous for marking the end of transatlantic boat challenges.
Tearing Ledges - Scillies These rocks might look a little innocuous in this picture but their name is not given lightly. This would be a fearsome place to be in a force 8 on a dark November night.
Tearing Ledges - Scillies
These rocks might look a little innocuous in this picture but their name is not given lightly. This would be a fearsome place to be in a force 8 on a dark November night.
Bishop Rock lighthouse Bishop Rock Lighthouse stands on a rock ledge 46m long by 16m wide, 4 miles west of the Scilly Isles.
Bishop Rock lighthouse
Bishop Rock Lighthouse stands on a rock ledge 46m long by 16m wide, 4 miles west of the Scilly Isles.
Bishop Rock from Periglis Bay I took this picture from the island of St Agnes (Scillies) while on Periglis beach.
Bishop Rock from Periglis Bay
I took this picture from the island of St Agnes (Scillies) while on Periglis beach.
Bishop Rock from St. Agnes Though 3½ miles away, Bishop Rock lighthouse is the main object on the skyline in this, the very last bit of Britain.
Bishop Rock from St. Agnes
Though 3½ miles away, Bishop Rock lighthouse is the main object on the skyline in this, the very last bit of Britain.
Trinity House worker on Bishop Rock Lighthouse I do not have any photos of Bishop from the days when it was manned and had no helicopter pad (it looked a lot better then).
Trinity House worker on Bishop Rock Lighthouse
I do not have any photos of Bishop from the days when it was manned and had no helicopter pad (it looked a lot better then).
Bishop Rock keepers A sight not seen since 1992. Two of the three keepers of the Bishop Rock light come out to greet a passing boat-full of tourists. The story of the Bishop Rock light can be found here: <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://trinityhouse.co.uk/lighthouses-and-lightvessels/bishop-rock-lighthouse" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://trinityhouse.co.uk/lighthouses-and-lightvessels/bishop-rock-lighthouse">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Bishop Rock keepers
A sight not seen since 1992. Two of the three keepers of the Bishop Rock light come out to greet a passing boat-full of tourists. The story of the Bishop Rock light can be found here: LinkExternal link
Bishop Rock Lighthouse Next stop America.
Bishop Rock Lighthouse
Next stop America.
Return to the Bishop Rock, Scilly We were pleased, as we approached the Bishop Rock, that the tickets we had were returns.
Return to the Bishop Rock, Scilly
We were pleased, as we approached the Bishop Rock, that the tickets we had were returns.
Bishop Rock Lighthouse Seen from Porth Warna on St Agnes. Bishop Rock is the westernmost of the Western Rocks of Scilly, some of which can be seen nearer the camera.
Bishop Rock Lighthouse
Seen from Porth Warna on St Agnes. Bishop Rock is the westernmost of the Western Rocks of Scilly, some of which can be seen nearer the camera.
Crebinicks, located about a half mile south east of Bishop Rock
Crebinicks, located about a half mile south east of Bishop Rock
Bishop Rock Lighthouse
Bishop Rock Lighthouse
The Bishop Rock lighthouse in 1965 From an old slide, before there was a helicopter landing pad on top of the lighthouse.
The Bishop Rock lighthouse in 1965
From an old slide, before there was a helicopter landing pad on top of the lighthouse.
The Bishop Rock lighthouse in 1966 From an old slide, prior to the helicopter landing platform being built.
The Bishop Rock lighthouse in 1966
From an old slide, prior to the helicopter landing platform being built.
Bishop Rock Light A feat of Victorian Engineering and a tribute to the nameless workers whose toils go unacknowledged.
Bishop Rock Light
A feat of Victorian Engineering and a tribute to the nameless workers whose toils go unacknowledged.
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Bishop Rock is located at Grid Ref: SV8006 (Lat: 49.872877, Lng: -6.4452998)

Division: Isles of Scilly

Unitary Authority: Isles of Scilly

Police Authority: Devon and Cornwall

What 3 Words

///narrates.moment.culminating. Near St Agnes, Isles of Scilly

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Bishop Rock

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