Casquets Lighthouse
Alderney, Channel Islands
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Featured Location Guide |
The Triple Towers at Casquets lies about 7
miles west off of Alderney.
In about 1722, the owner of the rocks, Thomas
Le Cocq, was approached by the owners of ships passing the dangerous rocks
called the Casketts off Alderney, to build a lighthouse and offered him ½d. per
ton when vessels passed the light. He approached Trinity House and was granted a
patent in 1723.
Trinity House decided that a light of
particular character, to distinguish it from those on the opposite shores of
England and France, was needed. So they decided to build 3 separate lights/towers
in the form of a horizontal triangle containing closed fires, coal fires
burning in glazed lanterns, and these were erected and came into operation in
1724. They were known as St Peter, St Thomas and Dungeon.
The lease granted to Le Cocq by Trinity House
lasted for 61 years at a rent of £50 per annum. The 3 lights then reverting to
Trinity House in 1785 and they were converted to metal reflectors in 1790. A
revolving apparatus was fitted to each tower in 1818, and they were raised by
30ft in 1854. It was converted to automatic operation in 1990.
The three original towers at the Casquets are
still in use, although only the North West Tower still exhibits a light. The
East Tower contains fog-signal equipment and a helideck is mounted on the third
tower.
During World War II the Germans used the light
station as an observation post and transmitter site, which attracted commando
raids by British forces in 1942 and 1943.
The rocks of Les Casquets with it's
lighthouse, seen from the beach on Alderney 13km away.
 Photo by
Neil Howard
Lighthouse information Grid
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Name: |
Casquets Lighthouse
(Triple Towers), Alderney, Channel Islands |
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Current status: |
Currently in use |
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Geographic Position: |
49
43'.4 N 02 22'.7 W |
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Grid Reference: |
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Ceremonial County: |
Alderney
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Appearance: |
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Map
Link: |
cylindrical stone tower with lantern and
gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands; lantern painted red. |
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Aerial photo: |
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Other photos: |
distant view
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Originally built: |
1724 |
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Current lighthouse built: |
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Height of Tower: |
23
Metres |
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Height of light above mean sea level: |
37
Metres |
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Character of light: |
White Group Flashing 5 Every 30 Seconds |
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Character of fog signal: |
2
Blasts Every 60 Seconds and its range is 3 nautical miles. |
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Range of light: |
24
nautical miles |
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Owned / run by: |
Trinity House
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Getting there: |
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Access: |
Site and towers closed. Only accessible by helicopter |
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Website: |
TH
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Other Useful Websites: |
more info
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| Routes: |
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Other Relevant pages: |
For more articles, lists and other information
see the
Lighthouses Section
Featured list of
Lighthouses - Channel
Islands
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Notes: |
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