Start Point Lighthouse

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Start Point Lighthouse

Orkney

Sanday

Start Point Lighthouse
Location
Grid reference: HY78684350
Location: 59°16’39"N, 2°22’33"W
Characteristics
Height: 82 feet
Tower shape: cylindrical tower
with balcony and lantern
Tower marking: white and black
vertical stripes tower,
black lantern, ochre trim
Light: Fl (2) W 20s.
Focal height: 79 feet
Range: 24 nautical miles
Admiralty No.: A3718
History
Built 1870
First lit: 1870
Information
Owned by: Northern Lighthouse Board

Start Point Lighthouse stands on Start Point, the easternmost headland or tidal island of Sanday in Orkney.

The first lighthouse here was completed on 2 October 1806 by engineer Thomas Smith. It was the first lighthouse of the Northern Lighthouse Board to have a clockwork-driven revolving parabolic reflector creating a sweeping beam. The reflector was later replaced by a Fresnel lens.

In 1870 the lighthouse was rebuilt.

Since 1915, the Start Point Lighthouse has been painted by distinctive black and white vertical stripes which are unique in the north. The light was automated in 1962 and is powered by a bank of 36 solar panels.

Despite the presence of the lighthouse, HMS Goldfinch was wrecked in fog on Start Point in 1915.

References

  • Start Point The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • Start Point: Northern Lighthouse Board
Lighthouses of the Northern Lighthouse Board
Flag of the Commissioners
Flag of the Commissioners

The Hebrides:   Barra Head • Butt of Lewis • Dubh Artach • Eilean Glas • Flannan Islands • Haskeir • Hyskeir • Lismore • Monach • Neist Point • Ornsay • Rinns of Islay • Rona • Ruvaal • Scarinish • Skerryvore • Tiumpan Head • Ushenish • Minor lights

Orkney:   Auskerry • Brough of Birsay • Cantick Head • Copinsay • Hoy Sound (High) • Hoy Sound (Low) • North Ronaldsay • Noup Head • Pentland Skerries • Start Point • Tor Ness • Minor lights

Shetland:   Bressay • Eshaness • Fair Isle North • Fair Isle South • Firths Voe • Foula • Hoo Stack • Muckle Flugga • Out Skerries • Point of Fethaland • Sumburgh Head • Ve Skerries • Minor lights

Isle of Man:   Chicken Rock • Douglas Head • Langness • Maughold Head • Point of Ayre • Thousla Rock

Mainland and smaller island groups::   Ailsa Craig • Ardnamurchan • Bass Rock • Bell Rock • Buchan Ness • Cape Wrath • Chanonry • Corsewall • Covesea Skerries • Crammag Head • Davaar • Duncansby Head • Dunnet Head • Fidra • Fife Ness • Girdle Ness • Holy Island (Outer) • Inchkeith • Isle of May • Kinnaird Head • Mull of Galloway • Mull of Kintyre • North Rona • Noss Head • Pladda • Rattray Head • Rubh Re • St Abbs Head • Sanda • Scurdie Ness • Stoer Head • Strathy Point • Stroma • Sule Skerry • Tarbat Ness • Turnberry

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