Old Colombo Lighthouse

Last updated
Old Colombo Lighthouse
Clock Tower
LK-colombo-uhrturm.jpg
The clock tower lighthouse
Old Colombo Lighthouse
Location Fort
Colombo
Sri Lanka
Coordinates 6°56′5″N79°50′34″E / 6.93472°N 79.84278°E / 6.93472; 79.84278 Coordinates: 6°56′5″N79°50′34″E / 6.93472°N 79.84278°E / 6.93472; 79.84278
Tower
Constructed1829 (first)
Constructionbrick tower
Automatedno
Height29 m (95 ft)
Shapesquare tower with balcony and lantern
Markingswhite tower with stone trim, grey metallic lantern
Light
First lit1865
Deactivated1952

Old Colombo Lighthouse or Colombo Fort Clock Tower is a clock tower and was a lighthouse in Colombo. The lighthouse is no longer operational, but the tower remains and functions as a clock tower. It is located at the junction of Chatham Street and Janadhipathi Mawatha (formerly Queens Road) in Colombo fort.

Contents

History

Queen Street, showing light house in 1907. Queen Street, showing light house, Colombo (NYPL Hades-2359794-4044559).jpg
Queen Street, showing light house in 1907.

The tower was constructed as a clock tower in 1856-57 and completed on the 25 February 1857. [1] The tower was designed by Emily Elizabeth Ward, the wife of Governor Sir Henry George Ward (1797 – 1860). [1] [2] The construction was undertaken by the Public Works Department, under the supervision of Mr John Flemming Churchill (Director General of Public Works). The 29-metre-high (95 ft) tower was the tallest structure in Colombo at that time. [3] The original clock was commissioned for £1,200 in 1814 by the then Governor Sir Robert Brownrigg (1759 – 1833) but was kept in a warehouse, due to economic reasons, until 1857 when it was finally installed.

The lighthouse was deactivated after its light became obscured by nearby buildings and was decommissioned on 12 July 1952. [4] The modern Galle Buck Lighthouse was erected on Marine Drive as its replacement.

Features

The original Colombo lighthouse was located on a bastion on the ocean edge of the fort, was a neo-classical structure, with a 23 m (75 ft) wooden light tower rising from a two-storey circular brick building and surrounded by an elaborate colonnade. [5] It was erected in 1829 and subsequently demolished with the removal of the fort ramparts between 1869 and 1871. [6]

The clock mechanism was constructed by the renowned English clockmakers, Dent, who were also responsible for manufacturing the clock ('Big Ben') at Westminster Palace in 1852. The clock tower was formally commissioned on 25 March 1857. [4] The bells in the clock tower consisted of a main bell of approx. 250 kg (550 lb) and two auxiliary bells of 152 kg (335 lb).

The navigational light was moved to the tower in 1867. [7] The clockwork operated revolving dioptric light was constructed by Chance Brothers. The height of the focal plane above sea-level was 140 m (460 ft) and the light was visible to an eye elevated 61 m (200 ft) above sea level at a distance of 27 km (17 mi) in clear weather. The light was a triple flash at intervals of 30 seconds, each flash being of one second duration, and each long eclipse of 18 seconds duration. [8] The light was lit using kerosene oil. In 1907 it was converted to gas. In 1933 it was replaced with a 1,500 candle power light powered by electricity.

In October 1913, the clock had to be replaced with the current clock, which has a six-foot dial glazed with opal glass for illumination and the clock tower was re-inaugurated on 4 April 1914. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colombo</span> Capital and largest city of Sri Lanka

Colombo is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo metropolitan area has a population of 5.6 million, and 752,993 in the Municipality. It is the financial centre of the island and a tourist destination. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to the Greater Colombo area which includes Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, the legislative capital of Sri Lanka, and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. Colombo is often referred to as the capital since Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is itself within the urban/suburban area of Colombo. It is also the administrative capital of the Western Province and the district capital of Colombo District. Colombo is a busy and vibrant city with a mixture of modern life, colonial buildings and monuments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plymouth Breakwater</span> Breakwater in Plymouth Sound

Plymouth Breakwater is a 1,560-metre (1,710 yd) stone breakwater protecting Plymouth Sound and the anchorages near Plymouth, Devon, England. It is 13 metres (43 ft) wide at the top and the base is 65 metres (213 ft). It lies in about 10 metres (33 ft) of water. Around 4 million tons of rock were used in its construction in 1812 at the then-colossal cost of £1.5 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highland Light</span> Lighthouse

The Highland Light is an active lighthouse on the Cape Cod National Seashore in North Truro, Massachusetts. The current tower was erected in 1857, replacing two earlier towers that had been built in 1797 and 1831. It is the oldest and tallest lighthouse on Cape Cod.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Washington Light</span> Lighthouse in Maryland, United States

Fort Washington Light is an unusual lighthouse located on the banks of the Potomac River on the grounds of its namesake fort. Although there has been a lighthouse on this location since 1857, the current light was converted from a fog bell tower in 1901.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colombo Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse

Colombo Lighthouse is a Lighthouse in Colombo in Sri Lanka and it is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. It is located at Galbokka Point south of the Port of Colombo on the waterfront along the marine drive, in Colombo fort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galle Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse

The Galle Lighthouse is an onshore lighthouse in Galle, Sri Lanka and is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. This is Sri Lanka's oldest light station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yeşilköy Feneri</span> Lighthouse

Yeşilköy Feneri is a historical lighthouse still in use located on the northern coast of Sea of Marmara at Yeşilyurt neighborhood in Istanbul's Bakırköy district, Turkey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wadjemup Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse on Rottnest Island, Western Australia

Completed in 1849, the original 20-metre (66 ft) Wadjemup Lighthouse was Western Australia's first stone lighthouse and was built to provide a safer sailing passage for ships to Fremantle Port and the Swan River Colony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galle Fort</span> Historic military fortress in Sri Lanka

Galle Fort, in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. It is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument, which even after more than 432 years maintains a polished appearance, due to extensive reconstruction work done by Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Les Hanois Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse

Les Hanois Lighthouse was constructed between 1860 and 1862 to a design by James Walker, and was first lit on 8 December 1862. It is sited on the rock known as Le Biseau, or Le Bisé, part of the reef Les Hanois one mile north west of Pleinmont where the Trinity House cottages were built. It was erected in response to an increasing number of shipwrecks on the treacherous rocks off the western coast of Guernsey.

The Matara Fort was built in 1560 by the Portuguese and was substantially re-built by the Dutch in 1640, following the capture of Galle. The fort, which consists of a large stone rampart, occupies the promontory, which separates the Niwala Ganga (River) lagoon and the ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Groote Kerk, Galle</span>

The Groote Kerk or Dutch Reformed Church is located within the Galle fort in Galle, Sri Lanka and is situated near the entrance to the fort. The church was built by the Dutch in 1755 and is one of the oldest Protestant churches still in use in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kozhikkode Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse in Kerala, India

Kozhikkode Lighthouse is a defunct light in the Kozhikkode District of Kerala. It was constructed in 1907. The first lighthouse was constructed in 1847 at a height of 33 meters (108 ft). The current tower is 15 meters (49 ft) and is painted white. Kozhikode or Calicut lighthouse is automated, and an LED flasher apparatus is in use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galle Clock Tower</span>

The Galle Clock Tower is located within the Galle Fort in Galle, Sri Lanka. The Clock Tower is a popular landmark and overlooks the central Moon Bastion, on the site of the former guard room. The clock tower was constructed in 1883, paid for through public subscriptions by the people of Galle, in recognition of Dr. P. D. Anthonisz. It was based on a design by John Henry Gues Landon. The clock was the sole gift of a grateful patient, Mudaliyar Samson de Abrew Rajapakse.

Peter Daniel Anthonisz was a well-known burgher doctor who was the first Ceylonese to obtain an M.R.C.P. and F.R.C.S. He was also the inaugural president of the Ceylon Branch of the British Medical Association and a member of the Legislative Council for nine years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oluvil Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse

Oluvil Lighthouse is a lighthouse situated on the southern east coast of Sri Lanka at Oluvil, which is located approximately 12 km (7.5 mi) south of Kalmunai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minicoy Island Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse in India

The Minicoy Island Lighthouse, which was established on 2 February 1885 at the southern end of the Minicoy Island in the Indian state of Lakshadweep during the British regime, is 49.5 metres (162 ft) in height and has now a range of 40 nautical miles (74 km) it is built in brick masonry and has a lantern and gallery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sri Lankan Christmas tree</span>

The Sri Lankan Christmas tree is the world’s tallest artificial Christmas tree. It was built on the Galle Face Green in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the tree is 72.1 m tall and opened on Christmas Eve 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Mark's Church, Badulla</span> Anglican church in Sri Lanka

St. Mark's Church, is an Anglican church in Badulla in Sri Lanka. The church is located in the central ward of Badulla Municipal Council at the junction of Mahiyangana – Badulla main road (B36). It was consecrated on 25 April 1857 by Bishop James Chapman. In April 2008 the church and the bell tower were formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological protected monument in Sri Lanka and declared as "protected monuments" by the acting Minister of National Heritage, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. The designation was formally included on 6 June 2008 in the government Gazette number 1553.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inisheer Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse

The Inisheer, Inis Oírr or Fardurris Point Lighthouse, is an active 19th century lighthouse located on the island of Inisheer, the smallest of the Aran Islands, in County Galway, Ireland. It marks the south-eastern entrance to Galway bay and the port of Galway known as the South Sound, with a red sector of the light marking the Finnis Rock. The Eeragh Lighthouse which marks the North Sound entrance to the bay on the north-western side of the islands, was also constructed at the same time. Inisheer and Eeragh both became operational in 1857.

References

  1. 1 2 Paranavitana, Dr. K. D. (25 June 2006). "The Big Ben of Colombo - the Chatham Street clock tower". The Sunday Times . Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  2. ↑ "Genealogy of Henry George Ward". Daniel Morgan's Genealogy Pages. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  3. ↑ "Lighthouse Explorer: Colombo Clock Tower". Lighthouse Digest . Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 Muhaj Hamin, T.M. (4 May 1997). "Let it tick and chime again". The Sunday Times . Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  5. ↑ Lighthouses: Return to an Address of the Honourable The House of Commons, dated 15 April 1850. Hansard . House of Commons. 1 August 1850. p. 41.
  6. ↑ "Lighthouse, Colombo". The British Library . Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  7. ↑ Rowlett, Russ (13 February 2006). "Lighthouses of Sri Lanka". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  8. ↑ Skeen, George J. A. (1906). A Guide to Colombo: With Maps; A Handbook of Information, Useful Alike. London. pp. 24–5.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.