Grand Turk Lighthouse

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Grand Turk Lighthouse
Historic Lighthouse Park on Grand Turk.jpg
Grand Turk Lighthouse
Grand Turk Lighthouse is located in Turks and Caicos Islands
Grand Turk Lighthouse
Grand Turk Lighthouse
Location Grand Turk Island
Turks and Caicos Islands
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Year first constructed 1852
Automated 1972
Construction cast iron tower
Tower shape tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / pattern white tower and lantern
Height 18 metres (59 ft)
Focal height 33 metres (108 ft)
Current lens Fresnel lens
Characteristic Fl W 7.5s.
Admiralty number J4812
NGA number 12408
ARLHS number TCI-001
Managing agent Turks and Caicos National Trust[1]

Grand Turk Lighthouse is a lighthouse on Grand Turk Island, Turks and Caicos Islands. The 60 feet (18 m) tall structure, overlooking North Creek, was completed by British architect Alexander Gordon in 1852 to alert sailors of the shallow reef. Brighter kerosene lamps and a more powerful Fresnel lens were added by the Chance brothers in 1943 and remained in use until 1972 when the lighthouse was electrified. Today, the lighthouse and lighthouse keeper’s house are a historic site under the protection of the National Trust.

Location

The structure is located on Lighthouse Road on the coast of Grand Turk. It is situated on a small limestone hill overlooking the shallow reef that extends from the northern end of the island.[2] The building and an attached kerosene storage house[3] overlook North Creek. This creek is said to closely resemble the description that Christopher Columbus gave for the first island he stumbled upon in the search of the New World in 1492.[4] Donkey trails lead from the lighthouse to the beach beneath the bluff.[5] Mangrove trees on the coast nearby help prevent erosion by retaining the sand.[2]

History

A Mr. Frith secured the building of the island's first modern lighthouse in 1852, saving the island's salt trade, which had waned when vessels stopped arriving due to difficultly with navigation.[6] It was designed by the architect Alexander Gordon to alert sailors of the shallow reef.[7] Constructed in the United Kingdom, it was shipped in pieces to the island.[5] In its heyday, a lighthouse keeper stayed all night at the lighthouse to monitor the lamps and slept during the day in the small keeper's house at the side.[8]

The still functional lighthouse[9] site is often referred to as Grand Turk Historic Lighthouse Park. The lighthouse and lighthouse keeper’s house are a historic site under the protection of the National Trust. A view point for watching whales[9] tourists come to lighthouse hill in February and March.[4]

Description

The lighthouse is a white-washed structure made of cast-iron, measuring 60 feet (18 m). It initially had eight small Argand oil lamps, with reflectors magnifying the light by 450 times, driven by weights and machinery.[7] The reflectors were constructed by Devill & Company of London in 1851. As the original lamps were not powerful, on dark, turbulent nights they could often not be seen, which led to shipwrecks off the coast even after the lighthouse had been established.[8] Brighter kerosene lamps and a more powerful Fresnel lens was added by the Chance Brothers of Birmingham, England[3] in 1943 which improved the situation.[7] In 1972, the lighthouse was electrified and provides a bright beacon light to guide ships.[8][2] The original lens is now on display in the Turks and Caicos National Museum.[10] The guard rail at the top is rusting due to age from the elements. The guard's house is where the guard would keep awake in the night to refill oil and kerosene lamps so that they would not get extinguished due to lack of oil. This house has small windows, likely designed to restrict light entering the building so that the guard could sleep more peacefully during full daylight.[8][2]

References

  1. Grand Turk Lighthouse The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved April 21, 2016
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External links