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Aerial images above and below by Marinas.com (more images are available)
Mumbles Lighthouse has guided vessels along the coast and into Swansea Bay, for over 200 years, past the hazards of the Mixon Shoal 0.5 of a mile to the South. This area has a 43ft tide, which some say is the second largest in the world, after the Bay of Fundy in Canada. The currents generated at the mouth of the Bay by the tide changes makes this a particularly dangerous spot when compounded by storms and it has seen numerous shipwrecks over the centuries. The lighthouse is built on the outer of two islands, known as Mumbles Head, about 500 yards to the east southeast of the mainland projection known as Mumbles near Swansea. This island is accessible by foot at certain states of the tide or by boat at high water. It is clearly visible from any point along the five mile sweep of Swansea Bay. In 1791 the Harbour Act gave the Swansea Harbour Trustees the power to provide a lighthouse for the outer Mumbles. In July 1792 the Trustees contracted for the erection of the lighthouse and work began. In October 1792 the half finished structure collapsed. In 1793 the plans of the local architect, William Jernegan, were accepted and the lighthouse was finally completed and lit in 1794. The Mumbles lighthouse originally displayed two open coal fire lights, one above the other, to distinguish it from St Ann's Head Lighthouse, which had two lights on separate towers and from Flat Holm Lighthouse with one light.
In the 1930's the light was fuelled by kerosene, and there was superstructure containing the Fresnel lens and assorted light related apparatus. I came across an account of someone visiting at that time, explaining how he visited and was shown by the lighthouse keeper what it was he had to do.
Until 1 November 1975, the lighthouse was owned and operated by the British Transport Docks Board, after that Trinity House took over the responsibility for this lighthouse. In 1977 the lantern, which had badly deteriorated and was beyond repair, was removed. In 1987 a lantern which had been removed from Light Vessel 25 (Abertay) was installed on top of the tower. In 1995 the Lighthouse was converted to solar powered operation, with solar module arrays mounted in frames on the fort roof. A pair of biformed Tideland ML300 lanterns replaced the main light and a new emergency light, fog detector and control and monitoring equipment were installed. This is all linked to Trinity House at Harwich in Essex.
Photo from Wikipedia
Photo from Wikipedia
Above and below are Photochromes from around 1900,
the one below is a section of the one above
Photochromes are from Camera Images GBPictures collection
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