Pladda Lighthouse

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Pladda Lighthouse
Taighsolaisairpladaigh.jpg
Pladda High Lighthouse
Pladda Lighthouse
Location Pladda, North Ayrshire, United Kingdom OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Coordinates 55°25′30″N5°07′06″W / 55.425129°N 5.118362°W / 55.425129; -5.118362
Tower
Constructed1790  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Built by Thomas Smith   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Constructionmasonry (tower)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Automated1990  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Height29 m (95 ft)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Shapecylinder  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Markingswhite (tower), black (lantern), ochre (trim)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Operator Northern Lighthouse Board   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Light
Focal height40 m (130 ft)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Lens hyperradiant Fresnel lens   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Range17 nmi (31 km; 20 mi)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Characteristic Fl(3) W 30s  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Pladda Lighthouse is an active 18th century lighthouse situated at the southern end of the island of Pladda in western Scotland. [1] [2] The lighthouse dates from 1790 and was designed by Thomas Smith. It was the first light on the Clyde to be commissioned by the Commissioners of the Northern Lights. It had both an upper and a lower light to distinguish it from the three other lighthouses in the Firth of Clyde.

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In 1876, Pladda was about the third station to have a foghorn. The "double lights" were replaced by a powerful flashing system in 1901. Lightkeepers were withdrawn in 1990 when the lighthouse was automated; it is now remotely monitored from the Northern Lighthouse Board's headquarters in Edinburgh.

The lighthouse tower is 29 metres (95 ft) in height; there are 128 steps to the top. Under normal conditions, its light (three white flashes every 30 seconds) is visible for 17 nautical miles (31 kilometres). [3] [4]

Pladda and its lighthouse feature extensively in Peter Hill's 2003 book Stargazing: Memoirs of a Young Lighthouse Keeper . They were also filming locations for "Queen Victoria Syndrome", the first episode of season 5 of The Crown .

See also

Notes

  1. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Southwestern Scotland". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  2. Pladda Northern Lighthouse Board. Retrieved 11 May 2016
  3. "Northern Lighthouse Board - Pladda". Nlb.org.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  4. Historic Environment Scotland. "Pladda, Lighthouse (Site no. NS01NW 2)" . Retrieved 25 June 2025.