Alderney is the Channel Island nearer to the French coast, and surrounded by two strong currents: the Swinge and the Alderney Race. Located at the eastern end, Mannez Lighthouse has watched over sailors trying to challenge the tumultuous waters of Alderney since 1912.
The Lighthouse was built after a large boat, the SS Liverpool, ran aground in the adjacent Cats Bay. At 32m high the lighthouse tower was painted white with a black band to make it more visible to shipping during the hours of daylight, this has make it a prominent island landmark.
The former keepers' dwellings adjoin the tower, there was a resident lighthouse keeper until as recently as 1996. However the lighthouse now has LED lights with a range of 12NM, this is controlled from Trinity House in Harwich in the UK.
