As part of the Jubilee celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's ascension to the throne, more than 4000 beacons are to be lit on the night of June 4th. The network will link communities throughout the UK, the Channel Islands and the Commonwealth.
Cornwall is playing its part in the beacon celebrations with more than 60 beacons spread across the county. If you are staying in Cornwall on that evening there are sure to be beacons within easy reach, clearly visible from their prominent locations. You can enter your postcode on the interactive map here to find the nearest beacon to you.
Beacons are a traditional way of celebrating special events such as Royal Wedding, coronations and jubilees. On 31st December 1999 they were lit across the UK to celebrate the arrival of the new millennium. Originally they were used to transmit messages of warning ‐ such as the approach of the Armada in 1588. They were usually lit on hilltops, church towers or castle battlements.
The beacon lighting has a strict timetable, winds permitting, culminating in the lighting of the National Beacon by the Queen in London at 10:30pm at the end of the BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace.
The beacon lighting commences with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors beacons at 10pm.
10:01pm sees the lighting of beacons at stately homes and private estates, farms, English Heritage, the National Trust and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution.
At 10:10pm beacons will be lit by the Scout Association, Girl Guiding UK, Boys Brigade along with Army Cadets and Combined Cadet Forces, Air Training Corps, the Marine Society and Sea Cadets.
At 10:12pm beacons will be lit along the length of Hadrian's Wall followed by local authorities, parish councils, associations, societies and committees at 10.15pm.
Churches, cathedrals and other religious groups light their beacons at 10.20pm with beacons on the Channel Island and the Isle of Man at 10.21pm.
10:24pm beacons are lit by Irish Lights, Trinity House and the Northern Lighthouse Board.
At 10:26pm charities and hospitals along with private houselholds are scheduled to light their beacons.
At 10:29pm beacons will be lit on the four peaks of the UK ‐ Ben Nevis in Scotland, Snowden in Wales, Scafell Pike in England and Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland.
The final National Beacon will be lit by Her Majesty at 10:30pm.
This chain of beacons is thought to be the largest ever and an application has been submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Born in Cheshire, Gillian Birch moved to Cornwall at her earliest opportunity and never looked back. After 20 years, her ongoing discovery of popular attractions, quiet footpaths and local eateries has made her a fount of knowledge as she entertains readers with her informative articles on the hidden gems of Devon & Cornwall from a local point-of-view.