History of Wolf Rock Lighthouse in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: September 30, 2025

Wolf Rock Lighthouse stands on a treacherous rock 18 nautical miles east of the Isles of Scilly and 8 nautical miles southwest of Land's End, Cornwall. Its remote and exposed location made construction extremely challenging. The lighthouse warns ships of the submerged hazard, protecting them from the dangerous rock. The name "Wolf Rock" comes from the howling sound produced by gales rushing through the rock's fissures.

1904: Installation of a more powerful light-source and a reed fog signal

In 1904, a Matthews incandescent oil burner replaced the Douglass multi-wick oil burner. A reed fog signal was also installed, which sounded a four-second blast every 30 seconds using compressed air produced by a small steam engine with a coke and coal-fired boiler.

1906: Change in light characteristic and decommissioning of the bell

In 1906, the light characteristic was changed so that the flash (red or white, alternating as before) was displayed every fifteen seconds rather than every thirty. The bell was decommissioned.

1925: Lighthouse featured in Dr Thorndyke detective novel

In 1925, the Wolf Rock Lighthouse features prominently in the Dr Thorndyke detective novel, The Shadow of the Wolf, by R. Austin Freeman.

The Shadow of the Wolf (Annotated)

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March 1941: Damage from aerial cannon fire

In March 1941, the lantern was hit by aerial cannon fire, shattering the glass of the lenses. For a time the red flash was removed. Also in 1941, the lighthouse was equipped with a radiotelephone.

December 1944: German submarine U-1209 hit Wolf Rock

On 18 December 1944, German submarine U-1209 hit Wolf Rock and was subsequently scuttled with the loss of 9 lives.

1955: Electrification of Wolf Rock Lighthouse

In 1955, electrification came to Wolf Rock Lighthouse. A 1 kW tungsten filament lamp was installed, within a new fourth-order catadioptric optic. 100V DC power for the light was provided by Crompton Parkinson generators, driven by Ruston-Hornsby diesel motors.