Built 1609, the first lighthouse in England, (UK?), with a high and low light. Both powered by candles, which, when viewed in line from the sea, guided small ships into port down the (now disappeared) Stamford channel.
Rebuilt 1628 and strengthened 1676 with a coal fire providing light to improve on the candles.
1706 Low Light discontinued due to changing shoreline, but brought back 1730 as an oil lamp, burning whale oil after shipmasters complained they couldn't navigate the Stamford Channel at night without it.
1777 High Light coal fire replaced by a circle of oil lamps and complex reflector system, (the 'Spangle light'), which had 400 mirrors & a greatly improved range of 20 miles.
1796 Spangle light replaced Argand lamps and silvered parabolic reflectors.
1874 New (present) High Light completed in readiness for electrification, only that plan was abandoned when paraffin oil proved so cheap & efficient . New optics and revolving lens fitted and the light made to flash at half-minute intervals.
1923 Low light finally extinguished due to the disappearance of the Stamford Channel.
1975 High Light automated.
1997 further modernisation.
