Hartland Point Lighthouse

Hartland Point Lighthouse

Hartland Point lighthouse. Lundy Island can be seen on the horizon
Location	Hartland Point, Devon, England
Coordinates	51°01′03″N 04°31′04″W / 51.01750°N 4.51778°W / 51.01750; -4.51778
Year first constructed	1874 (1st); 2012 (2nd)
Automated	1984
Tower shape	Circular
Height	18 m (59 ft) (1st); 1.5 m (4.9 ft) (2nd)
Focal height	37 m (121 ft) (1st); 20.5 m (67 ft) (2nd)
Original lens	3rd Order 500MM 6 Panel Rotating
Intensity	635,000 Candela
Range	25 nmi (46 km) (1st); 8 nmi (15 km) (2nd)
Characteristic	White Group Flashing 6 Times Every 15 Seconds
Admiralty number	A5622
NGA number	6252
ARLHS number	ENG 051

Hartland Point Lighthouse is a Grade II listed building^[1] 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

Built in 1874 by Mr Yerward of Wales under the direction of Sir James Douglass, 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.^[2]

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.^[1]

The tower was automated in 1984 and controlled from Trinity House Operations Centre at Harwich in Essex.^[3] 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.^[4] 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."^[5]

References

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