St David's Lighthouse
| St David's Lighthouse | |||
| St. David's Island | |||
 St David's Lighthouse | |||
| Location | |||
| Location: | 32°21’50"N, 64°39’6"W | ||
| Characteristics | |||
| Height: | 72 feet | ||
| Tower shape: | Octagonal tower with double balcony and lantern | ||
| Tower marking: | White tower with broad central red band, red trim | ||
| Light: | Fl (2) W 20s | ||
| Focal height: | 213 feet | ||
| Range: | 15 nautical miles | ||
| History | |||
| Built 1879 | |||
| Information | |||
| Owned by: | Government of Bermuda | ||
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]
History
Construction started in 1876 and it became operational in 1879, it consists of an octagonal tower of 72 feet built 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 213 feet 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.
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.[4]
In 1976, some scenes from the 1977 film 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 film's plot.[5] Author Peter Benchley had included the lighthouse as a significant plot point in his novel of the same name.[6]
The lighthouse is maintained by the Bermuda Department of Marine & Ports Services.
The lighthouse is open daily to visitors from May to September each year.[3]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about St David's Lighthouse) |
References
- ↑ Rowlett, Russ: Lighthouses of Bermuda – The Lighthouse Directory (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
- ↑ "St. David's Lighthouse". Lighthouse Explorer. Lighthouse Digest. http://www.lighthousedigest.com/Digest/database/uniquelighthouse.cfm?value=1446. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "The St. David's Lighthouse History". http://bermudalighthouse.com/history.htm. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
- ↑ "Pelinaion". http://www.shipwreckexpo.com/bermudashipwreckspelinaion.htm. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
- ↑ "Sink or Swim: The Making of "The Deep"". http://bernews.com/2011/01/sink-or-swim-the-making-of-the-deep/. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ↑ Hawtree, Christopher (February 14, 2006). "Peter Benchley". The Guardian (Guardian News and Media Limited). https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/feb/14/guardianobituaries.obituaries.