Dramatic seascape view over the Hartland Point Lighthouse as a storm unloads over the island of Lundy
Hartland Point Lighthouse is a Grade II listed building at Hartland Point, Devon, England. The point marks the western limit where the Bristol Channel meets the Atlantic Ocean. Built in 1874, Trinity House have a lighthouse on the tip of the peninsula. The tower is 18 metres (59 ft) tall with the lamp being 37 metres (121 ft) above mean sea level. The light could be seen up to 25 miles (40 km) away from the coast. In 1925 a 30 metre (98 ft) long sea wall was built to prevent erosion of the rocks on which it stands. Automated in 1984, and controlled from Trinity House Operations Centre at Harwich in Essex. Prior to automation the lighthouse was built with accommodation for four keepers and their families. The keepers' dwellings have since been demolished to make room for a Helipad to be constructed. This was necessary due to the precarious nature of the access road which is liable to frequent rock falls and landslips. Vehicular access is now very difficult and the gates tend to remain locked. The large concrete structures immediately to the south of the lighthouse were to provide the keepers with fresh water. Having carried out a thorough assessment of the requirements for Aids to Navigation off Hartland Point, Trinity House determined that the light at this location could be reduced to a nominal range of 8 nautical miles. This light can be more economically provided by a modern LED beacon in front of the original lighthouse, with no detriment to the safety of the Mariner. On 31 December 1982 the Panama-registered, Dutch owned MS Johanna was driven aground on rocks less than 400 m from the lighthouse during strong gales. The cargo ship was carrying wheat from The Netherlands up the Bristol Channel towards Cardiff. Four of the crew were rescued by a helicopter from RAF Chivenor. Three officers were taken off later in the day by the RNLI lifeboat from Clovelly. The decaying remains of the hull can still be seen today.
Size: 4724px × 2362px
Location: Hartland Point Lighthouse, Hartland Point, Hartland, Devon, England, UK
Photo credit: © Kevin Clark / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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