The rights were leased to a Lt. Henry Smith; but (such were the technical challenges of the venture) the project was transferred to the less exposed location of the Longships, where construction of a lighthouse proceeded.

[11] On Wolf Rock, rather than a lighthouse, Lt. Smith went on to build a 6.1 m (20 ft) high wrought iron daymark, 10 cm (4 in) in diameter and supported by six stays.

[16] Trinity House engineer James Walker constructed a 4.3 m (14 ft) high cone-shaped beacon, which took five years to build.

[21] The finished tower was topped by a lantern storey manufactured by Chance Brothers of Smethwick to James Douglass's design.

The light first shone on 1 January 1870; as planned, it displayed "alternate flashes of red and white of equal intensity every thirty seconds".

[25] The completed optic (which together with its pedestal stood 20 feet (6.1 m) high) was described by Douglass as "probably the most perfect for the purpose that has yet been constructed";[26] it continued in use for the next eighty-five years.

[23] A 7-cwt bell, hung from the lantern gallery, was sounded in fog; driven by a separate clockwork mechanism, it rang three times every fifteen seconds.

At the same time a reed fog signal was installed, which sounded a four-second blast every 30 seconds using compressed air produced by a small steam engine with a coke and coal-fired boiler;[27] it remained in use until the 1960s.

100V DC power for the light was provided by Crompton Parkinson generators, driven by Ruston-Hornsby diesel motors, which were installed in what had been the coal store.

During automation the red colour was removed from the light and the fourth-order optic was adapted so as to display one white flash every fifteen seconds.

Also, an electric emitter replaced the diaphone fog signal at this time,[27] Fifteen years later the lighthouse was converted to solar power, with photovoltaic cells being installed around the exterior of the helideck support structure.

Set within the fourth-order revolving optic,[38] its solar-powered lamp has a range of 16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi); it flashes once every 15 seconds and is remotely monitored from the Trinity House Planning Centre in Harwich, Essex.

[39] The ro-ro vessel Mazarine grounded near the lighthouse on 10 July 2023, while on a voyage from Ireland to Zeebrugge, Belgium following a loss of power.