Steve Pellatt
Take your Pick
Penmon Point Lighthouse, Anglesey, Wales, UK
Such were the forecasts and sunrise times this was the only sunrise I went out for during my 6 days on Anglesey. I was originally only going to post a colour version because of the sky but the Gary Gough in me decided a B&W was worth showing too.
I knew the lighthouse was accessed via a private toll road but guessed at sunrise no one would be idiot enough to be on duty when I went. Unfortunately I did get caught on my outward bound leg even though it was 6am when I left! I think it was £2.50 or £3.50 which isn’t too bad - especially when you compare it to the cost Winchester City Council charge if you use one of their car parks in the city!!
Trwyn Du Lighthouse also known as Penmon Lighthouse, was built in 1838 to mark the north entrance to the Menai Strait between Black Point near Penmon and Puffin Island.
The first lighthouse was erected in 1838, at a price of £11,589. There had been a call for a light at this location for some years especially after the steamer the Rothsay Castle ran aground and broke up on nearby Lavan Sands in 1831 with 130 people losing their lives.
The present Lighthouse, built 1835–1838, is 29 metres (95 ft) tall and was designed by James Walker.
The Lighthouse has a stepped-base designed to discourage the huge upsurge of waves that had afflicted earlier lighthouses on the site and reduce the force of the water at the bottom of the tower.
Austere vertical walls, instead of the usual graceful lines of other rock towers, are probably an economy measure. The tower has a crenelated stone parapet, in preference to iron railings on the gallery, and narrows in diameter above the half-way point. These are features used by Walker in his other lighthouse designs. The tower is distinguished by its original three black bands painted on a white background. Its also bears the words "NO PASSAGE LANDWARD" on its north and south sides.
Walker also pioneered, unsuccessfully, the use of a primitive water closet, comprising a specially designed drain exiting at the base of the tower. The stepped design of the lighthouse may have helped water exit the closet, but surges of seawater made its use difficult during heavy weather.
In 1922 Trwyn Du became the first Trinity House lighthouse to be automated, when it was converted to unwatched acetylene operation.
The lamp was converted to solar power in 1996 and the lighthouse was modernised extensively at that time.
At present the Lighthouse has a 15,000 candela light that flashes once every 5 seconds and can be seen 22 km away. There was also a lifeboat station built in 1832, nearby, but this closed in 1915.
The tower has been unmanned since 1922 and is checked from Holyhead Control Centre.
Ref. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trwyn_Du_Lighthouse
© All rights reserved to Steve Pellatt. Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.
Take your Pick
Penmon Point Lighthouse, Anglesey, Wales, UK
Such were the forecasts and sunrise times this was the only sunrise I went out for during my 6 days on Anglesey. I was originally only going to post a colour version because of the sky but the Gary Gough in me decided a B&W was worth showing too.
I knew the lighthouse was accessed via a private toll road but guessed at sunrise no one would be idiot enough to be on duty when I went. Unfortunately I did get caught on my outward bound leg even though it was 6am when I left! I think it was £2.50 or £3.50 which isn’t too bad - especially when you compare it to the cost Winchester City Council charge if you use one of their car parks in the city!!
Trwyn Du Lighthouse also known as Penmon Lighthouse, was built in 1838 to mark the north entrance to the Menai Strait between Black Point near Penmon and Puffin Island.
The first lighthouse was erected in 1838, at a price of £11,589. There had been a call for a light at this location for some years especially after the steamer the Rothsay Castle ran aground and broke up on nearby Lavan Sands in 1831 with 130 people losing their lives.
The present Lighthouse, built 1835–1838, is 29 metres (95 ft) tall and was designed by James Walker.
The Lighthouse has a stepped-base designed to discourage the huge upsurge of waves that had afflicted earlier lighthouses on the site and reduce the force of the water at the bottom of the tower.
Austere vertical walls, instead of the usual graceful lines of other rock towers, are probably an economy measure. The tower has a crenelated stone parapet, in preference to iron railings on the gallery, and narrows in diameter above the half-way point. These are features used by Walker in his other lighthouse designs. The tower is distinguished by its original three black bands painted on a white background. Its also bears the words "NO PASSAGE LANDWARD" on its north and south sides.
Walker also pioneered, unsuccessfully, the use of a primitive water closet, comprising a specially designed drain exiting at the base of the tower. The stepped design of the lighthouse may have helped water exit the closet, but surges of seawater made its use difficult during heavy weather.
In 1922 Trwyn Du became the first Trinity House lighthouse to be automated, when it was converted to unwatched acetylene operation.
The lamp was converted to solar power in 1996 and the lighthouse was modernised extensively at that time.
At present the Lighthouse has a 15,000 candela light that flashes once every 5 seconds and can be seen 22 km away. There was also a lifeboat station built in 1832, nearby, but this closed in 1915.
The tower has been unmanned since 1922 and is checked from Holyhead Control Centre.
Ref. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trwyn_Du_Lighthouse
© All rights reserved to Steve Pellatt. Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.