Trwyn Du Lighthouse
The Penmon lighthouse also known as Trwyn Du Lighthouse was one of the later lighthouses to be constructed in this area, and was, like many, built after a major loss of life nearby. It marks some rocks that are on the end of land going out towards Puffin Island, but also marks the north entrance to the Menai Straits.
Penmon lighthouse was built following a major loss of life, on 17 August 1831, when an old steamer, 'The Rothsay Castle', ran aground and broke up on or near Puffin Island.
The old steamer was on its regular passage between Liverpool and the Menai Straits, and to be described as "old" in 1831, must have meant it was really quite ancient, or perhaps not in the best of condition. The ship left Liverpool with 150 passengers aboard and ran into very difficult sea conditions beyond the Mersey Bar.
It struggled against the headwinds and had not reached the halfway point of her journey after 4 hours and according to passenger accounts, passengers wanted to turn back but the the Captain refused their requests. It struggled on.
The Rothsay Castle had left the Mersey at 11am and it was now midnight, 13 hours had passed, and she still had not reached her destination. About an hour later 14 hours out, at about 1am she struck the Dutchman Bank, bounced off and continued without much control along the channel. A further series of collisions with the sand banks and appalling sea conditions resulted in her starting to break up.
Survivors recount how there was total chaos on deck even before the funnel broke off and pushed the Captain and his officer overboard, deteriorating more from that point. Of the 150 passengers on board, 130 were lost and 20 survived, being rescued by the Beaumaris Lifeboat, supported by a pilot boat from Penmon.
Trwyn Du Lighthouse
The Penmon lighthouse also known as Trwyn Du Lighthouse was one of the later lighthouses to be constructed in this area, and was, like many, built after a major loss of life nearby. It marks some rocks that are on the end of land going out towards Puffin Island, but also marks the north entrance to the Menai Straits.
Penmon lighthouse was built following a major loss of life, on 17 August 1831, when an old steamer, 'The Rothsay Castle', ran aground and broke up on or near Puffin Island.
The old steamer was on its regular passage between Liverpool and the Menai Straits, and to be described as "old" in 1831, must have meant it was really quite ancient, or perhaps not in the best of condition. The ship left Liverpool with 150 passengers aboard and ran into very difficult sea conditions beyond the Mersey Bar.
It struggled against the headwinds and had not reached the halfway point of her journey after 4 hours and according to passenger accounts, passengers wanted to turn back but the the Captain refused their requests. It struggled on.
The Rothsay Castle had left the Mersey at 11am and it was now midnight, 13 hours had passed, and she still had not reached her destination. About an hour later 14 hours out, at about 1am she struck the Dutchman Bank, bounced off and continued without much control along the channel. A further series of collisions with the sand banks and appalling sea conditions resulted in her starting to break up.
Survivors recount how there was total chaos on deck even before the funnel broke off and pushed the Captain and his officer overboard, deteriorating more from that point. Of the 150 passengers on board, 130 were lost and 20 survived, being rescued by the Beaumaris Lifeboat, supported by a pilot boat from Penmon.