Photograph kindly provided by bilge rat; appears to be 2005.
This is the building which was erected at Penzance Wharf in 1898.
It is sited on the area used to construct The Wolf Rock Lighthouse of 1860.
Trinity House has been in Penzance since before 1850, as in that year they erected iron cylinders surmounted with red balls, showing 15 feet above high water, one on the Ryeman and the other on the Western Cressars, two half-tide rocks.
Trinity House were present in just six Depots across Britain.
At Cowes, Great Yarmouth, Harwich, Penzance, Swansea and the Thames.
These Depots were set up to maintain all lighthouses and warning signs, buoys etc.
They had a small number of ships (THV) in their own fleet.
In 1991, the building became transformed internally and was opened in 1991 as Trinity House National Lighthouse Centre.
The exhibits were nigh unique, was popular and attracted much interest and visitors.
It was described as one of the finest museums anywhere.
Then in 2002 Trinity House announced that it would close its district maintenance depot in Penzance over the next two years, with the loss of up to 29 jobs. They were in consultation with Penwith District and Penzance Town Council for three years over this decision. The decision was influenced by the lack of necessity for servicing lighthouses following their automation. The Route Partnership were set up in 2003.
It then appeared that the National Lighthouse Centre was also to close.
Trinity House said 'the lighthouse artefacts need to be displayed at a large centre which has greater public accessibility.'
October 2004, The Museum closed for winter not to be opened in May 2005.
14th April 2004 it was announced that 'Plymouth City Council and Trinity House are considering plans for the £2m transformation of the Plymouth Dome tourist attraction into a national lighthouse museum.'
The external displayed buoys have all been removed, what remains in the building is not known.
The Centre is still described in general terms, but the Trinity House website link to the Lighthouse Centre website is dead.
I have not heard of a Plymouth centre for Trinity House National Lighthouse Centre.
What is to happen with this building - now only partially occupied?
