Pendeen Lighthouse was built by Trinity House in 1900 to warn shipping of the dangers of rocks around Pendeen Watch. The 17 metre-tall tower originally housed an oil lantern which was replaced in 1926 with an electric one. You can see the original lantern at the Trinity House National Lighthouse Centre in Penzance.

The single story building you can see extending from the tower was formerly 'cottage' accommodation for the lighthouse keepers and their families. It is now let as holiday cottages.

The lighthouse was automated in 1995 and an automatic fog signal - the small building behind the sea wall with two horns extending from the roof - was installed. The lighthouse is monitored and controlled via a telemetry link from the Trinity House Operational Control Centre in Harwich.