West Blockhouse Point Beacons
The West Blockhouse Point Beacons are three leading light beacons, they perform the same function as a lighthouse and are situated on the promontory to the west side of the entrance to Milford Haven, and lie about a mile north-east of St. Ann's Head in Pembrokeshire, Wales.[2] They consist of three octagonal reinforced-concrete towers of 30 feet (9.1 m), 37 feet (11 m) and 46 feet (14 m) in height, with sides 1.5 feet (0.46 m) in width,[2] surmounted by cantilevered octagonal concrete platforms on which stand sealed-beam lights. The lights are accessed by ladders which extend up the columns through an opening in the platform. Each column carries a steel daymark painted black and white.[2]
 West Blockhouse Beacon on St Ann's Head | |
  Wales | |
| |
| Location | West Blockhouse Point Dale Pembrokeshire Wales United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51.6884°N 5.1592°W |
| Year first constructed | 1957 |
| Automated | 1957 |
| Construction | three reinforced concrete towers |
| Tower shape | octagonal tower with cantilevered octagonal platform |
| Markings / pattern | unpainted tower, black and white painted daymark |
| Tower height | 9 metres (30 ft) 11 metres (36 ft) 14 metres (46 ft) |
| Focal height | 54 metres (177 ft) |
| Range | 13 nautical mile  |
| Characteristic | F W |
| Admiralty number | A5286 A5286.1 (east tower) A5286.2 (west tower) |
| NGA number | 5616 5624 (east tower) 5628 (west tower) |
| Managing agent | Milford Haven Port Authority[1] |
There is also a leading light beacon on the cliff below West Blockhouse Fort, set up by Trinity House engineers in 1957. This has a second-hand round metal lantern (ex Rame Head) which is 2 feet 7 inches (0.79 m) in diameter, supported on a bolted iron pedestal, standing on a concrete platform cantilevered from the cliffs and reached by a steeply descending flight of steps.[2]
The beacons are operated by the Milford Haven Conservancy Board and are approached via Dale then the road to St Ann’s Head, turning left into Maryborough Farm Road, and then taking a right turn.[3]
References
- West Blockhouse Point The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 4 June 2016
- Hague, D. B., Lighthouses of Wales, Their Architecture and Archaeology, edited by Hughes, S., Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, 1994, ISBN 1-871184-08-8
- Denton, A., & Leach, N., Lighthouses of Wales, Landmark Publishing Ltd., 2008, ISBN 978-1-84306-459-6
