The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Whiteford Point Lighthouse

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 00826w
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Llangennith, Llanmadoc and Cheriton
Unitary authority : Swansea
NGR : SS44399728
Site Type (preferred type first) : POST MEDIEVAL Lighthouse
Status : Scheduled Monument , listed building II*

Summary :
This lighthouse is the only wave swept cast iron lighthouse of any size remaining in Britain. Built in 1865 it replaced an earlier piled structure of 1854. The lighthouse was in use in 1914, but was decommissioned in 1921, and out of use by 1933.

Description :
Please note that some of the sources contain information that, as yet, has not been included in this description field. This will be updated in due course.
This lighthouse is the only wave swept cast iron lighthouse of any size remaining in Britain. It was one of the last cast iron lighthouses to be built in 1865 replacing an earlier piled structure of 1854. The tower is 13.41m high, standing just above the low water mark, being submerged by up to 6m of water at high tide. It sits on a slightly raised rubble and masonry base.

At its base it is 7.32m in diameter, narrowing to 3.51m at lantern level. It is built of 7 courses of cast iron plates bolted together with external flanges (the only example of this type). At the top of the 7th course is the main delicately decorated balcony with a wooden slatted floor, of which only a few wooden slats remain, described as the most attractive example south of Scotland (Hague 1972). Access to the balcony was via a wooden ladder attached to its eastern side. The ladder has since either been taken away or has fallen off, the lower side pieces still visible as are the iron fastenings on the side of the tower.

From the main balcony a door led to the lantern room, from which a ladder gave access to the brick lined store room which also served as a cramped living room, with another store room below that. The storerooms were lit by inward opening circular casement lights. A second smaller undecorated balcony was provided at the 8th course up to enable the glass of the lantern to be cleaned. The lantern itself is formed by 3 rows of 20 rectangular planes, the glazing and roof sheeting has all gone. The finial appears to be made of copper whilst the rest of the lantern structure is iron. The lower part of the lighthouse is thought to be filled with stone ballast.

The lighthouse went out of use by 1933, since then it has occasionally been lit in the summer by local boating interests. The remains of rope attachments and temporary scaffolding across the lantern having been left by these attempts. Cast iron was used in many lighthouses (the earliest being built in Swansea in 1803) as it was relatively light compared to masonry and prefabrication in the factory meant it could be erected on site with relatively unskilled labour.

The cramped living quarters and the lack of any signs of heating has lead to the suggestion that it may have been operated on a system of tidal or daily watches from the mainland. However, its remoteness from any settlements and vulnerability to severe weather means emergency accommodation would at least have been needed. (02)

It consists of seven rings or courses of heavy cast-iron plates bolted together by means of external flanges, in marked contrast to all other cast-iron towers which have internal flanges presenting a smooth external face. Certain aspects of the design are crude: the vertical joints which although staggered are haphazard, and the curious external flanges which would have presented difficulties at the foundry. The external flanges were advantageous for two reasons. First they could greatly facilitate the erection of the tower as the base is only exposed for an hour or two at low water.

Secondly, they would facilitate the replacement of any sections should it be necessary, as the interior which is now inaccessible is said to be partly filled with stone ballast. The iron plates are l.22m (4ft) high and about 1.22m (4ft) wide near the base but narrow as they ascend in order to facilitate the staggering of the joints. The three substantial horizontal wrought-iron straps covering the lowest joints may be original, but the purpose of the irregular individual straps on many of the lower sections is puzzling as there appear to be no cracks.

In contrast, the lantern and elegant gallery railings are remarkably refined. From the seventh course of iron plates, ten sturdy cast-iron brackets with roundel-decorated spandrels carry the main balcony which, in order to lessen resistance, had a slatted wooden floor. The balcony parapet or balustrade is perhaps the most attractive of any lighthouse south of Scotland, and consists of delicate iron balusters linked at the top with trefoils and carried on strong bellied-beams l.98m (6ft 6ins) long.

Access to the structure was by means of an external ladder on the east side, which has now been removed. This led to the balcony from where a door led into the lantern-room, and from this a ladder gave access to the store-room which also served as a somewhat cramped `living' room. Both rooms were lit by two lunettes on the south-west and north-west; at the lower level these are set in the centre of the panels, but the upper ones are formed in the vertical joints.

As the eighth course of cast-iron plates forming the low cast-iron wall carrying the lantern is over six feet high, it was necessary to provide a second smaller upper balcony for cleaning the outside of the lantern. The lantern is formed of three rows of twenty rectangular panes; as the slender glazing-bars are intact it seems reasonable to suppose that, like the attractive ogee-domed top, they are of non-ferrous metal. A few sheets of copper survive on the dome and the pretty finial seems complete.

There is no visible evidence of any flue from a heating stove which might have made the cramped quarters comfortable, and it seems likely that the station could not have been residential and may have been operated on a system of tidal or daily watches from the mainland. The lighthouse was in use in 1914, but discontinued in 1921. It has since been occasionally lit in summer by local boating interests. Although two or three of the cast-iron panels have cracked, the main structure is in remarkably good condition and should survive for many years, but some undermining of the stone base needs to be remedied to ensure long-term survival. (01)

Sources :
The Handley Partnership , HAAbase built heritage assessment system: Buildings at Risk database
01/Pm Desc Text/Hague DB/Lighthouses of Wales: The architecture and archaeology/RCAHMW/1994
02. P Poucher (2003) The National Trust Archaeological Survey North Gower Properties: Whiteford Burrows, Llanrhidian Marsh, The Bulwark, Ryer's Down & Welsh Moor
03/Desc Text/Cadw/Full Management Report/2005/Copy in further information file

Events :
E006100 : GGAT150: Rapid Coastline Zone Assessment (year : 2016-17)
E006100 : GGAT150: Rapid Coastline Zone Assessment (year : 2016-17)

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 34289 http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/34289/details

Compiled date : 21-04-2004


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