Hartland Point Lighthouse

Hartland Point Lighthouse

Hartland Point lighthouse. Lundy Island can be seen on the horizon
Devon
Location Hartland Point
Devon
England
United Kingdom
Coordinates 51°01′19.4″N 04°31′32.6″W / 51.022056°N 4.525722°W / 51.022056; -4.525722
Year first constructed 1874 (first)
Year first lit 2012 (current)
Automated 1984
Deactivated 2012 (first)
Construction brick tower
Tower shape cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern attached to a 2-storey keeper's house
Markings / pattern white tower and lantern
Height 18 m (59 ft) (first)
1.5 m (4.9 ft) (current)
Focal height 37 m (121 ft) (first)
20.5 m (67 ft) (current)
Original lens 3rd order 500mm 6 panel rotating
Intensity 635 candela
Range 25 nmi (46 km) (first)
8 nmi (15 km) (current)
Characteristic Fl (6) W15s.
Fog signal blast every 60s.
Admiralty number A5622
NGA number 6252
ARLHS number ENG 051
Managing agent

Trinity House[1]

[2]

Hartland Point Lighthouse is a Grade II listed building[3] at Hartland Point, Devon, England. The point marks the western limit (on the English side) of the Bristol Channel with the Atlantic Ocean continuing to the west. Trinity House, the lighthouse authority for England and Wales, have a lighthouse on the tip of the peninsula.

History

Designed by Sir James Douglass construction began in Nov 1873 by contractor Mr Yerward[4] of Wales under the supervision of resident engineer Henry Norris,[5][6] Douglass and Norris having completed Souter Lighthouse in 1871.

The tower is 18 metres (59 ft) tall with the lamp being 37 metres (121 ft) above mean sea level. The light could be seen up to 25 miles (40 km) away from the coast. It is protected by a 30 metres (98 ft) long sea wall which was built in 1925 to prevent erosion of the rocks on which it stands.[7]

It was blessed by Frederick Temple, Bishop of Exeter, who later became Archbishop of Canterbury, and the light was lit for the first time by Lady Stucley of Hartland Abbey during the opening ceremony on 1 July 1874.[3][6]

The tower was automated in 1984 and controlled from Trinity House Operations Centre at Harwich in Essex.[8] Prior to automation the lighthouse was built with accommodation for four keepers and their families. The keepers' dwellings have since been demolished to make room for a Helipad to be constructed. This was necessary due to the precarious nature of the access road which is liable to frequent rock falls and landslips. Vehicular access is now very difficult and the gates tend to remain locked. The large concrete structures immediately to the south of the lighthouse were to provide the keepers with fresh water.

The lighthouse

Having carried out a thorough assessment of the requirements for Aids to Navigation off Hartland Point, Trinity House determined that the light at this location could be reduced to a nominal range of 8 nautical miles. This light can be more economically provided by a modern LED beacon in front of the original lighthouse, with no detriment to the safety of the Mariner.[9] Consequently, the old light was decommissioned in 2012.

The Lighthouse was marketed and sold by Trinity House at a £500,000 guide price, consisting of "the former lighthouse, three bedroom living accommodation over two storeys, various stores, a helipad and access via a surfaced road that leads up the cliff to the gated entrance. The site in total amounts to about 16 acres of cliff and coastline, and has the best sea views in the area."[10]

See also


References

  1. ↑ Hartland Point The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved May 1st, 2016
  2. ↑ Hartland Point Lighthous Trinity House. Retrieved May 1st, 2016
  3. 1 2 "Hartland Point Lighthouse". Images of England. English Heritage.
  4. ↑ "Hartland", Exeter Flying Post, p. 7, Aug 2, 1871, It is now announced...that Mr. Levy Yerward, late Government contractor at Pembroke Dock, has been selected by the Trinity Board to erect a lighthouse, dwelling houses, and other buildings at Hartland Point.
  5. ↑ "Hartland", Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, p. 7, Apr 18, 1874, Hartland Point Lighthouse - Since the latter part of November, when the foundation stone of this work was laid, and the rough weather soon after set in, the building has been suspended and only a few hands partially employed on the works. We are happy to note the return to business this week of Mr. Ferward, the contractor, and Mr. Norris, the engineer of the works.
  6. 1 2 "Hartland - Opening of the Lighthouse", Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, p. 7, Jul 3, 1874
  7. ↑ "Hartland Point Lighthouse". Trinity House. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  8. ↑ "Hartland Point Lighthouse". Photographers Resource. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  9. ↑ "Hartland Point Lighthouse". Trinity House website. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  10. ↑ "Hartland Point Lighthouse, North Devon - Archive - Trinity House". Trinity House website. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
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