The Chaine Memorial

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The Chaine Memorial Tower is a memorial to James Chaine, a former Member of Parliament for Larne, County Antrim.

Chaine developed Larne's short sea route to Scotland as well as establishing the town as a transatlantic port. The memorial, built in 1888, is a replica of an Irish Round Tower. The memorial is situated at the mouth of Larne harbour in Northern Ireland, and reached via Chaine Memorial Road. There is access from Curran Road via Bay Road.

The plaque which adorns the memorial is now difficult to read. It reads that the monument was erected by the...

"....contributions of every class in this mixed community irrespective of creed or party, all cordially united in esteem and affection for the Memory of JAMES CHAINE of Ballycraigy and Cairncastle Co. Antrim who represented this County in the Imperial Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland from February 1874 till 4 May 1885 when his early and lamented death in his 44th year of his age deprived his native County of one who had worked indefatigably for its interests especially in developing and improving the natural capabilities of the harbour of Larne and establishing its connection with Great Britain, the United States of America and with the inland parts of this County."

On the 1st of July 1899, an oil powered navigational light was installed 22 meter's up the tower (The tower being a total of 28 meter's in height). The light was installed to aid the navigation of the Hunter Rock, a submerged rock approx 5 miles off shore.

The light was converted to coal gas in 1905, before finally being converted to electric in the latter part of 1935.

Maintaining the Light now falls under the remit of the attending keeper at Ferris Point Lighthouse on the other side of the Harbour.