Everything about Hartland Point totally explained
Hartland Point is a 325 ft high rocky outcrop of land on the northwestern tip of the
Devon coast in
England. It is three miles north-west of the village of
Hartland. The point marks the western limit (on the English side) of the
Bristol Channel with the
Atlantic Ocean continuing to the west. This location was known to the Romans as the "promontory of Hercules".
Lighthouse
Trinity House, the lighthouse authority for
England and
Wales, have a lighthouse on the tip of the peninsula. Built in
1874 under the direction of
Sir James Douglass, the tower is 18m tall with the lamp being 37m above mean sea level. It was blessed by Bishop Temple of Exeter who later became
Archbishop of Canterbury. The tower was automated in 1984 and is now controlled from Trinity House Operations Centre at
Harwich in
Essex. Prior to automation the lighthouse was built with accommodation for four keepers and their families. The keepers' dwellings have since been demolished to make room for a
Helipad to be constructed. This was necessary due to the precarious nature of the access road which is liable to frequent rock falls and landslips. Vehicular access is now very difficult and the gates tend to remain locked. The large concrete structures immediately to the south of the lighthouse were to provide the keepers with fresh water.
Characteristics
| Light | White group flashing six times every fifteen seconds
|
| Fog horn | One five-second blast every minute
|
The light can be seen up to 25 miles away from the coast.
Coastguard
HM Coastguard maintain a small station on the top of the point near the lighthouse. This is now normally unmanned.
The
South West Coast Path was formerly an aid to the Coastguard who needed to be able to travel from station to station on foot while being able to keep an eye on the sea to spot for
smugglers. The path stays close to the edge of the cliffs on its journey through Hartland Point and it's an ideal way to explore the point, its landmarks and the scenery.
Radar Station
The UK's
Ministry of Defence have a radar station installed on the point and controlled from nearby RAF Hartland Point. This is used for air traffic control of both military and civilian aircraft. The unusual white-dome-topped structure can be seen from distances of up to 10 miles from the point.
MS Johanna
On
31 December 1982 the Panama-registered, Dutch owned MS
Johanna was driven aground on rocks less than 400m from the lighthouse during strong gales. The cargo ship was carrying
wheat from
The Netherlands up the
Bristol Channel towards
Cardiff. Four of the crew were rescued by a helicopter from RAF Chivenor. Three officers were taken off later in the day by the
RNLI lifeboat from
Clovelly. The decaying remains of the hull can still be seen.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Hartland Point'.
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