Longstone Lighthouse

Longstone Lighthouse in the Farne Islands is forever associated with Grace Darling, the lighthouse keeper’s daughter who became a Victorian heroine after helping rescue survivors from the wrecked steamship Forfarshire in 1838. Grace died of tuberculosis just four years later at age 26, but her spirit is said to remain at the lighthouse, particularly during storms when she appears looking out to sea as if watching for ships in distress.

Lighthouse keepers and their families stationed at Longstone have reported numerous encounters with Grace’s ghost over the decades. She appears as a young woman in a long dress, her hair loose and wet, standing on the gallery or in the lantern room during rough weather. Some witnesses describe seeing her rowing a ghostly coble (small boat) toward the rocks where the Forfarshire went down, recreating her heroic rescue. The sound of oars creaking and a woman’s voice calling out reassurances has been heard on stormy nights when no boat is present.

Inside the lighthouse, Grace’s presence is felt in gentler ways. Keepers’ wives reported finding their children’s blankets tucked in when no one had entered the room, and the sensation of a caring presence watching over the family. One keeper in the 1950s reported waking to see a young woman sitting by his sick child’s bedside, disappearing when he approached. Since automation, maintenance crews have reported seeing a figure in the windows when approaching by boat, only to find the lighthouse empty. The sound of a woman singing Victorian hymns has been recorded, and some visitors report feeling suddenly comforted and safe despite the isolated, harsh environment. Grace Darling’s spirit seems to remain at her post, forever watching over the treacherous waters where she proved her courage.