The Knott family of lighthouse keepers are accredited with the longest period of continuous service in the history of manned lighthouses, commencing in 1730 at South Foreland with William Knott and ending in 1910 at Skerries (Anglesey, Wales) with Henry Thomas Knott (son of George Knott - see below) who died the following year having retired to Crewe. There are three famous lighthouse-keeping families in England, the other two being the Darling (see: Grace Darling) and the Hall families.

George Knott (pictured) was the third in the succession, and was famous for his wonderful models of the lights in which he served. The picture shows him with one of two amazing models he made of the Smeaton Eddystone. The model is perfect in every detail, both inside and out, and is in store at the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich. The other model was destroyed during the London Blitz.