The History of
Pellworm Lighthouse

The lighthouse on the North Sea island of Pellworm

The construction of the tower is identical with two other towers in North Friesland, the Westerheversand lighthouse on the Eiderstedt peninsula north of St. Peter Ordinig, and the Hörnum lighthouse on Sylt. The Pellworm tower was erected on 127 oak piles, each of which are 3,5m long.

The lighthouse was assembled from 600 individual steel components, produced in Isselburg steelworks, and held together by 16,000 bolts.

Problems caused by dampness in the past have now been solved as humidity inside the tower is now automatically regulated.

In August 2002 the lighthouse was converted to a leading light with three sectors, which now guides maritime vessels through the Norderhever on their way to Husum. Before these changes, Pellworm was a directional beam with a lower front light.

Since it was first commissioned in 1907, Pellworm lighthouse has been electrically powered. In those days 100 storage batteries supplied the beacon with electricity at night - they were charged by two 16 horsepower one-cylinder diesel engines. Today the tower is supplied with electricity from the public power station or, in the event of a power cut, by a diesel generator. There are enough fuel supplies to last one week.

In the meantime, the original Fresnel lens has been replaced by a modern light cannon with a six-time-changer, whose halogen bulbs burn for 2000 hours.

For further information, please, do not hesitate to contact captain Wilfried Eberhardt:

Schardeich 10
25849 Pellworm
Tel.: 04844 / 990880
Fax: 04844 / 1405
Handy: 0171 / 7870005
E-Mail: W.Eberhardt@Leuchtturm-hochzeit.de