The chapel, was built around 1320 and has over the years been used as a Church teaching place for boys, a sailor's chapel, a dwelling-house, reading room, laundry, cafe, a place for band practice by the Artillery Volunteers and a lighthouse. The green flashing light (previously red) can been seen giving its warning to ships.

Restoration work recently carried out by the Rotary Club of Ilfracombe has reconstructed the oriel window of the north wall on the original base. Here the Priest kept the light of St. Nicholas burning.