The lighthouse was designed to alert passing ships of the dangerous Mixon Sands and Cherry Stone Rock - two massive undersea sand banks that have caused the destruction of countless ships and taken the lives of hundreds of seamen over the centuries. It has stood on the outer islet at Mumbles Head since 1794. The tower has two tiers because initially two open coal fire lights were displayed. These were replaced by a single oil powered light within a cast iron lantern in 1905. The lighthouse is Mumbles most photographed landmark.
