From the Needles Park website (part 2 of 2):
"Originally this lighthouse had a keeper and three assistants. The men were on duty for two months and then on leave for one month.
There were always three men on duty at the lighthouse at any one time. Sadly, the lighthouse was automated in 1994 and we said goodbye to the keeper and his assistants.
In spite of the presence of the lighthouse, the Needles has always constituted a danger to shipping
-- over the years many ships have foundered on or near these rocks."