St. David's Lighthouse

St. David's Lighthouse is an active 19th century lighthouse sited at the eastern end of St. David's Island on a hill overlooking the headland of St. David's in Bermuda. It is one of only two 'traditional lighthouses' in Bermuda, the other being Gibbs Hill Lighthouse at the south-western end of the main island, both lights are well known tourist attractions.[1]

St. David's Lighthouse

St. David's in 2010
St. David's Lighthouse Bermuda
Location	St. David's Island, Bermuda
Coordinates	32.364°N 64.65166°W
Year first constructed	1879
Construction	limestone tower
Tower shape	octagonal tower with double balcony and lantern
Markings / pattern	white tower with a broad central red band, red trim
Tower height	22 metres (72 ft)
Focal height	65 metres (213 ft)
Range	15 nmi (28 km)
Characteristic	Fl (2) W 20s.
Admiralty number	J4472
NGA number	110-11616[1]

History

The tower in 2007

Construction started in 1876 and it became operational in 1879, it consists of an octagonal 22-metre-high (72 ft) tower of local limestone with two galleries and a lantern room. Originally painted white, it now has a distinctive red band daymark half-way up the tower. The original wick-type burner was replaced in the 1920s by a hood vapour kerosene unit.[2][3]

With a focal height of 65 metres (213 ft) above sea level, the main light can be seen for 15 nautical miles, and has a light characteristic of a flash of white light every two seconds. A second light at a slightly lower level, displays fixed red and green lights to mark offshore shoals.[4]

In 1940, the SS Pelinaion a Greek freighter en route from Africa to Baltimore which was oblivious to the fact that the lighthouses had been switched off due to the war, ran aground and broke in two on a reef to the east of St. David's Head. The sizeable wreck is now a popular dive site, with the boilers and triple-expansion steam engine still visible.[5]

In 1976, some scenes from the motion picture The Deep were filmed in the lighthouse tower while a fake St. David's Lighthouse, built at Bermuda's Coney Island, was blown up as part of the movie's plot.[6] Author Peter Benchley had included the lighthouse as a significant plot point in his novel of the same name.[7]

The lighthouse is maintained by the Bermuda Department of Marine & Ports Services, and is registered under the international Admiralty number J4472 and has the NGA identifier of 110-11616.[1][4]

The lighthouse is open daily to visitors from May to September each year.[3]

See also

• List of lighthouses in Bermuda

References

1. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Bermuda". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
2. "St. David's Lighthouse". Lighthouse Explorer. Lighthouse Digest. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
3. "The St. David's Lighthouse History". Bermudalighthouse.com. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
4. List of Lights, Pub. 110: Greenland, The East Coasts of North and South America (Excluding Continental U.S.A. Except the East Coast of Florida) and the West Indies (PDF). List of Lights. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2016. p. 113.
5. "Pelinaion". shipwreckexpo.com. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
6. "Sink or Swim: The Making of "The Deep"". Bernews.com. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
7. Hawtree, Christopher (February 14, 2006). "Peter Benchley". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 29 October 2020.

External links

• Department of Marine & Ports Services