The Grey Lighthouse Today
The Grey Lighthouse is owned by realty developer RealDania By og Byg, but the everyday duties around the lighthouse are managed by The Danish Nature Agency.
We also collaborate with the Danish Ornithological Society, including Skagen Bird Observatory, regarding informing about the bird population around the point of Skagen.
The Grey Lighthouse in Historical Perspective
The Grey Lighthouse in Skagen was built in 1858 by the Danish architect N.S. Nebelong, and is constructed of bare brick. The lighthouse is located in the middle of the point of Skagen, and with its 46 meters, is the second tallest lighthouse in Denmark, surpassed only by Dueodde Lighthouse on Bornholm.
Facts about The Grey Lighthouse’s History
An hour after sunset on 1 November 1858, the lamp of the Grey Lighthouse was lit for the first time and so, Skagen had its third lighthouse, which could help seafarers stay on course and get safely into port. In fact, Skagen was also the place where the very first Danish lighthouse was lit, and now it had also become the home of a modern giant of a lighthouse, which at 46 meters was Denmark's tallest until 1960.
The staff of the lighthouse included a keeper at the top, his assistant and a couple of operators, who all helped in different ways to manage the lighthouse. Though the assistant was in all respects subordinate to the keeper, he was in charge when the keeper was absent. The operators were also an integral part of the lighthouse’s work schedule, but they did the rougher jobs, such as cleaning and hauling firewood. Also, when evening came, the watch officer had to arrive no later than half an hour before sunset to prepare for the lighting of the lighthouse, and their shift lasted for as long as the lighthouse was lit.
The Lighthouse Keepers
The Grey Lighthouse has from 1858 to 1994 been managed by 10 different lighthouse keepers. At the time, The Grey Lighthouse was one of the most prominent lighthouses in the country for a keeper to manage, and the lighthouse was therefore usually their last and final place of employment when a new lighthouse keeper came to the Grey Lighthouse.
Before reaching the position of lighthouse keeper in Skagen, a keeper usually had to have at some point in their lives held a position as lighthouse assistant and also been employed at various smaller lighthouses. Typically, the vast majority of the lighthouse keepers had also previously sailed on long-distance voyages as navigators, masters or engineers.