Hook Head Lighthouse, CHURCHTOWN (Shelburne By.)

Freestanding single-bay four-stage lighthouse, extant 1245, on a circular plan originally single-bay three-stage. "Restored", 1665-7. "Repaired", 1792. "Improved", 1864, producing present composition. Automated, 1996. Rendered walls on battered base including rendered walls (top stage) with cast-iron railings centred on lantern on rendered base. Interior including mural staircase accessing tiered cross-vaulted chambers including limewashed cross-vaulted chamber (top stage). Set on headland with limewashed boundary wall to perimeter having rounded coping.

The official record says Hook is one of the world's oldest working lighthouses and may owe its origin to William Marshal, who survived a wreck off Wexford.

A lighthouse representing an important component of the built heritage of south County Wexford [SMR WX054-010----]. NOTE: Cited as the one of the oldest working lighthouses in the world (CIL), the "Tower of Hook" is believed to owe its origins to William Marshall (1190-1231), second Earl of Pembroke, who survived a shipwreck off the Wexford Coast and who wished to assist safe passage to the burgeoning port at New Ross.

The official record says Hook is one of the world's oldest working lighthouses and may owe its origin to William Marshal, who survived a wreck off Wexford.