the floors of the lighthouse were occupied as follows in 1911 (with later changes of use noted in italics): 1st floor – Water tank (providing fresh water for lighthouse keepers) 2nd floor – Entrance room with metal door leading to exterior ladder to base below 3rd floor – Store room, with window (later contained fuel tanks for the generators) 4th floor – First oil room, with oil tanks formerly used to light the lamp (later the engine room) 5th floor – Second oil room, with window (later the 'amenity room') 6th floor – Living room for lighthouse keepers, with window (later the kitchen) 7th floor – Bedroom for lighthouse keepers, with window 8th floor – Store room (later the living room) 9th floor – Service room 10th floor – Lantern Culture and Media In December 1946 the BBC sent two radio reporters, Edward Ward and Stanley Coombs, to Bishop Rock as part of a programme of round-the-world Christmas messages, a format that had already been used before the Second World War. Gale-force winds and heavy seas prevented their return for almost a month, and food supplies for the five men in the lighthose began to run out. A lifeboat was able to reach the lighthouse on 16 January 1947 and the two reporters were lowered into the boat by rope while the sea was still rough. The rock is the subject of a short orchestral descriptive work by the late Doreen Carwithen (Mary Alwyn), which has been recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Richard Hickox. The lighthouse was used as a filming location for one of the BBC One 'Circle' idents, and was also featured in the last segment of the documentary series Three Men in More Than One Boat. The lighthouse was also featured in the 2010 BBC documentary Islands of Britain, presented by Martin Clunes. The lighthouse featured in BBC TV children's programme Blue Peter in 1975, when presenter Lesley Judd visited. "Disaster nearly struck as she travelled by rope to the lighthouse from a boat. Her harness snapped, leaving Lesley with no support should she lose her grip on the rope." The lighthouse also features in the short story "Keeper of the Bishop" by A. E. W. Mason. See also List of shipwrecks of the Isles of Scilly List of lighthouses in England References External links Trinity House – Bishop Rock A description