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Lighthouse At Europa Point
When people come to visit the town of Gibraltar, it is quite necessary
that all four corners of the town be explored if one wishes to call the
visit a truly enjoyable one. In this regard, one particular corner in
Gibraltar that should not be overlooked is the town’s southern end, not
only because the place is literally the edge of the town, but also because
there is so much to see in the area that a Gibraltar visit will not be
considered complete without getting a tour of the southern part of town.
Southern Gibraltar is home to several historical sites, including Parson’s
Lodge, the 100 Ton Gun, and Europa Point, the latter serving as the
southernmost corner of the town. In this particular area, one can have a
perfectly good sighting of the African continent, the Gibraltar Strait,
and several Spanish towns lying near the Gibraltar border.
At Europa Point, three impressive structures can be found, all of which
have great significance in the history of Gibraltar. These structures are
the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe, the Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, and the
Trinity Lighthouse.
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The Lighthouse at the Edge
The Trinity Lighthouse, which also goes by the name Europa Point
Lighthouse, is perhaps the most conspicuous of the three Europa Point
landmarks simply because it lies at the very edge of Gibraltar.
However, it should be emphasized that there are actually three other
lighthouses that are located in the town. One of these is the
Gibraltar South Mole or the ‘A’ Head lighthouse. Painted in black,
this 59-foot structure stands near the southern breakwater edge of the
town’s harbor. It is presently closed, but when it was still in
operation, it was known to emit a single white flash at two-second
intervals.
Over at the edge of the northern breakwater corner of the town’s
harbor stands another lighthouse, referred to as the Gibraltar North
Mole, or the ‘D’ Head lighthouse. It stands at 59 feet and originally
has a skeletal tower made from cast iron. Red lights in quick flashing
fashion used to be emitted by this particular lighthouse, which is
presently closed.
There is also the Gibraltar North Mole Elbow, or the ‘E’ Head
lighthouse, a 92-foot structure that flashes red lights in continuous
fashion. Painted in gray, the lighthouse boasts of a harbor-control
quarters, a gallery, and a watch room, all of which are circular in
shape. The tower has a skeletal extension from where the main
illumination is displayed. Although the tower is closed, the site is
apparently open and can be reached via the road that was built just
above the breakwater.
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While the above-mentioned lighthouses may be huge attractions in
Gibraltar, only one can actually boast of having a specially strategic
position, and that lighthouse is no other than the Trinity Lighthouse.
From its standpoint — south of Gibraltar — visitors can get a clear
view of several notable sites namely, the Rock of Gibraltar on the
north end, the North African mountains on the opposite end, and just
below, the Gibraltar Strait, an important sea lane where many marine
vessels pass through regularly.
The Trinity Lighthouse was named so because the Trinity House was
responsible for its maintenance. In this aspect, the lighthouse
acquired a significant status as it became the only lighthouse being
managed by the company that is located outside of Great Britain.
Trinity House was granted this responsibility through the Merchant
Shipping Act of 1894.
Construction of the Trinity Lighthouse started on April 26, 1838 when
then Governor Sir Alexander Woodford laid the lighthouse foundation
stone with help coming from the Gibraltar chapter of the Masonic
Order. The ceremony was covered by the Gibraltar Chronicle, with a
detailed story subsequently published in its April 28, 1838 edition.
When the Trinity Lighthouse was formally opened on August 1, 1841,
more than 2,000 spectators from around the area came over to watch the
ceremony. Again, it was covered by the Gibraltar Chronicle complete
with specific details on how then Governor Woodford wanted the
occasion to be recorded in all its civil and military spectacle.
First Light
Before the Trinity Lighthouse came into existence though, what was
considered as the first navigational light in the area was that emanating
from the then chapel of Our Lady of Europe. Back then, history records
showed that light needed to be kept continuously burning from around the
chapel, most especially at the entrance point leading toward the image of
the Blessed Virgin, for this served as a beacon for mariners traveling
through the area, which was quite crucial, as the waters of the
Mediterranean can get to be treacherous at times.
For this purpose, the chapel received numerous offerings from passing
ships, specifically from galley commanders. The gifts were often in the
form of silvery lamps and oil supplies, with one sailor, Prince Juan Doria,
recorded to have offered a 1568 silver lamp to the Virgin in thanksgiving
for having captured five galleys situated near the Gibraltar Strait. Doria
was known as the son of another well-known sailor from Genoa, Andrea Doria.
With the establishment of the Trinity Lighthouse in 1841, it became the
main navigational light for seafarers, eventually replacing the chapel.
The structure stands at a high 49 meters above sea level, with its image
said to be visible from as far as 27 kilometers away.
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Light Alterations
Initially, the lighthouse made use of an oil lamp that has one wick to
provide the needed illumination in combination with catoptric mirrors and
fixed lens. Improved illumination came in 1864 with the use of a burner
having four wicks manufactured by Chance Brothers. The light came in an
arc of red along with new lenses, and was meant primarily to illuminate
Pearl Rock, a series of dangerous surface rocks situated west of Gibraltar
Bay near the entrance point. Eleven years later, further improvements were
made again with the installation of an oil burner having four wicks and
which made use of minerals to produce light.
In 1894, several improvements were again made on the Trinity Lighthouse.
These included the use of a Douglas burner with eight wicks, which changed
the quality of the illumination from the fixed type to an ocular variety.
Additionally, the installation of a new and improved lantern increased
light power to about 35,000 candela. Likewise installed was a fog signal
that was capable of making two quick reports in succession with
five-minute intervals.
Sometime in 1905, the Trinity Lighthouse started using a new but different
light source. This was the mantle burner, with its three-tiered
incandescent light variety. Eighteen years later, however, this gave way
to the vapor burner of the single mantle type and which made use of Hood
petroleum. |
Between the years 1954 and 1956, the Trinity Lighthouse underwent major
structural changes. These included the modernization of its optical
apparatus mainly by making use of a lighting system that can be operated
through electrical means.
The chief light was also modified by being installed with a lens system
that was of the revolving type and which carried greater power. Corollary
to this, a subsidiary or secondary light was put up just beneath the chief
light to render fixed and additional lighting over Pearl Rock in
coordination with the chief illumination.
Additionally, an increase in the lighthouse height was also made.
Specifically, an extra six feet was added to the tower’s height primarily
to handle the installation of the secondary or subsidiary light.
Complete modernization of the Trinity Lighthouse finally took place in
1994 when it became fully automated. Obviously retained was the existing
illumination, though it has since been provided with a lamp changer that
holds three positions. On the other hand, the instrument responsible for
signaling approaching fog has been modified with the installation of an
emitter stack having a 500 Hz power.
Being fully automatic meant that the Trinity Lighthouse was to be operated
24 hours through remote control means by a reporting station that has
phone links with the Gibraltar Port Office. Among the things that the
reporting station makes a regular examination of are the navigational
aids, the fire systems, intruder alarm systems, and the power supplies.
The Physical Lighthouse
The Trinity Lighthouse has several physical features that are quite
interesting in themselves and serve to further add to its distinction as a
major tourist spot in Gibraltar. Aside from the fact that it appears like
a large cone in white with a horizontal strip of red in its middle area,
the Trinity Lighthouse is an imposing structure with its tower height of
20 meters, while the entire structure itself measures about 49 meters when
measured above the high waters.
Since the electrification of the Trinity Lighthouse in 1956, its lamp has
been known to carry 240 volts, along with a 1,500-watt filament. Its optic
is of the Second Order Catadioptric type carrying a focal length of 700
millimeters and is known to produce about two red and white flashes in
15-second intervals. Additionally, the lighthouse fog horn produces one
loud blow every 20 seconds.
As for the intensity of the lights, the white variety is said to have a
power of 1,070 candela while the red version has a 208 candela capacity.
In terms of range, the white light can reach an approximate distance of as
far as 19 miles while its red counterpart reaches about 15 miles. Both
measurements, incidentally, are in terms of sea miles.
The Dawn of Progress
With the eventual invention of the radar, satellites, and other modern
instruments that are meant to make the business of navigation relatively
faster and easier, one would probably think that the Trinity Lighthouse
has outlived its primary purpose, in spite of the fact that it became
completely automated in 1994. Yet, this is not actually an accurate
description of what is happening over at the Trinity Lighthouse. Because
the Gibraltar Strait is a major passageway to the other ends of the globe,
it is inevitable that vessels will continuously pass through the area. For
that, they will constantly need guidance, especially when navigating
across the treacherous Mediterranean waters, a function that the Trinity
Lighthouse has been ably carrying out for several centuries now. It comes
as no big surprise therefore to know that the lighthouse continues to
operate up to the present time.
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Aside from being a major tool for sea navigation, the Trinity Lighthouse
presently serves other important functions. Non-professional radio
operators from Gibraltar have found the lighthouse a perfect radio tower,
from where they are able to make radio broadcasts annually. |
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Automation Changes
Ever since its automation in 1994, the Trinity Lighthouse has been without
a keeper. Rather, it is an attendant who keeps it company every now and
then and makes sure that everything is in order. The attendant, an
erstwhile Trinity Lighthouse keeper named Terry Jesty, lives just beside
the gargantuan structure. He arrived in the area in 1985, and along with
two other colleagues, was originally tasked to man the lighthouse.
Nowadays, a computer system built inside the lighthouse does the job that
Jesty used to do, and this automatically beeps him in case help is needed.
Simply put, Jesty has become a mere helper, although he does need to be
always ready, 24 hours everyday, just in case the computer system goes
into disarray. Admittedly, however, that hardly happens, as the system
proves to be exceptionally efficient. Jesty thus thinks of himself as a
slowly dying breed.
The Lighthouse Future
Numerous stories abound that Gibraltar will eventually come back to the
arms of Spain. Inevitably, this will include the Trinity Lighthouse and
all the other remarkable landmarks in its environs. Yet, Jesty believes
that this will never come to pass primarily because the links that connect
Gibraltar to Great Britain are very strong. For one, the Trinity
Lighthouse continues to be associated with the Trinity House and
exclusively holds the distinction of being the only lighthouse that the
company operates outside of the UK. All of the lighthouses under its
supervision are UK-based.
There is also the fact that a plaque can be found inside the lighthouse,
one that serves as the ultimate link of the Europa point landmark with the
British. The plaque, originally placed by the widow of the late King
William III, Queen Adelaide, dates back to 1838 when the Trinity
Lighthouse was still being constructed and is proof of how prized a
collection the lighthouse and Gibraltar itself is to the British
government.
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