LIGHTHOUSE
SNIPPETS
THE ITEMS BELOW ARE VARIOUS THINGS I HAVE COME ACROSS WHILST
SEARCHING OTHER RECORDS, I THOUGHT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO SOMEBODY. I
can send full report to anyone who enquires.
17 June 1853 .. BURIAL - at Freshwater,
Peter HENDERSON age 1 yr, abode The
Lighthouse.
(source: All Saints Freshwater parish
register)
May 1888 .. ST CATHERINE'S LIGHTHOUSE -
The brilliancy of the electric light with which this sea mark is now supplied,
on Tuesday night quite startled very many of the dwellers in Ventnor and the
Undercliff, who had not been following the preparations that had been going
forward at St Catherine's to effectually light this very dangerous part of the
coast ...... that from 1st May St Catherine's would be furnished with the most
powerful electric light in the world, this appears to have been verified.
Each night now the light can be seen from Ventnor, piercing the channel many
miles to sea, and searching the coast for a long distance, whilst in the more
immediate vicinity the district is illuminated for many miles around. A
more powerful horn has also been fixed, the bellowing of which is like that of a
bull, with fifty horse steam power, but as yet is far less objectionable than
was the hideous howl of the last instrument and can be heard ten miles at sea
...... (source: IW Advertiser, Ryde & Ventnor Times)
*
21 Jan 1893 .. LIGHTHOUSE COMMUNICATIONS - The Royal
Commission on Lighthouse communication with the shore, has concluded its interim
report, which will be laid before Parliament on the 31st. It will be
proposed as an experiment, that some of the most important lightships should be
connected with the shore by electric cables.
(source: IW County Press)
27 Mar 1926 .. ST HELENS LIGHTHOUSE HEROINE -
Courageous conduct of Miss Ethel
LANGTON, the 15 year old daughter of
the lighthouse-keeper on St Helens Fort, who being alone on the fort owing to
tempestuous weather, kept the important navigation light burning for three
nights during the weekend, St Helens and the Island has reason to be proud of
the heroine. The plucky girl ascended a steep iron ladder 80 feet above
the sea level and gave the necessary attention to the mechanism of the light. .
. . . . . (a lot more to this report,
plus photo)
(source: IW County
Press)
25 Jan 1930 ..
NEEDLES LIGHTHOUSE - The massive rock on which the Needles Lighthouse
stands, did not escape damage from the terric seas which raged around it during
the recent gales. A large portion of rock, a slab some 70ft in length was torn
away, and, in order to prevent further inroads by the sea towards the lighthouse
foundations, concrete facing work is being carried out. When weather
permits material for this work is being taken out by motor-boat from
Yarmouth.
(source: IW County Press)
6
Nov 1937 .. TRINITY HSE MASTER'S RETIREMENT - After 37 years with the Trinity House
Service, Mr William James NORRIS of 21 Tennyson road,
retires. Prior to joining the service in 1900 he spent seven and half years
in the navy, rejoining the service during the war. Before the war Mr NORRIS served at the " Nab Lightship", after that he spent
years at the " Shambles vessel" off Portland, eventually Master for eight
years. The last three years of his service he was Master of the "
Royal Sovereign" off Eastbourne.
(source: IW County Press)
[Home] [Main
lighthouse page] [Light
Keepers]