Pladda Lighthouse

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Pladda High Lighthouse
Taighsolaisairpladaigh.jpg
Pladda Lighthouse
Pladda Lighthouse
Location Pladda
Firth of Clyde
Scotland
Coordinates 55°25′30″N5°07′06″W / 55.425129°N 5.118362°W / 55.425129; -5.118362 Coordinates: 55°25′30″N5°07′06″W / 55.425129°N 5.118362°W / 55.425129; -5.118362
Tower
Constructed1790
Built by Thomas Smith   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Constructionmasonry tower
Automated1990
Height29 m (95 ft)
Shapecylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markingswhite tower, black lantern, ochre trim
OperatorNorthern Lighthouse Board [1] [2]
Light
Focal height40 m (130 ft)
Lens hyperradiant Fresnel lens   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Range17 nmi (31 km)
Characteristic Fl (3) W 30 s

Pladda Lighthouse is an active 18th century lighthouse situated at the southern end of the island of Pladda. 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. 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 Lightkeepers were withdrawn in 1990 when the lighthouse was automated; it is now remotely monitored from the Northern Lighthouse Board's Headquarters in Edinburgh.

Contents

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 book Stargazing: Memoirs of a Young Lighthouse Keeper.

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 (40074)". Canmore . Retrieved 4 August 2012.



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