Georgetown Lighthouse

Chance Brothers Lighthouse Chance Brothers Lighthouse
  • Date of lens manufacture
    ---
  • Date of lighthouse construction

    1830 (station established 1817).

  • Country

    Guyana

  • Commissioning body

    Committee of Pilotage

  • Order of lens

    4th order

  • Fixed or revolving lens

    Revolving

  • Active/Inactive

    Active

  • Describe the character of light

    FI WR 60s - flash every 60 secs, red or white depending on direction.

  • Describe the lighthouses daymarks

    Right and white vertical stripes

  • Which aspects of the lighthouse (other than the lens) were manufactured by Chance brothers
    ---
  • Describe the history of the lighthouse

    The Georgetown Lighthouse was first built by the Dutch in 1817 and then rebuilt in 1830 to help guide ships into the Demerara River from the Atlantic Ocean. The 31 m (103 feet) high octagonal structure is a famous Georgetown, Guyana landmark with its distinct vertical red and white stripes. The Lighthouse, located on Water Street, is maintained by the National Trust of Guyana.

    The brick structure was commissioned on 1 June 1830, when it replaced a wooden lighthouse that had been built on the same site by the Dutch. British engineers constructed the present lighthouse, reinforcing the building by placing it on a foundation of 49 greenheart piles, making it durable nearly 200 years later.

    A floating light was placed at the Demerara bar in March 1838 and the approach of vessels between 1830-1849 was announced by signal flags placed on a staff at the top. On 27 February 1838 a Committee of Pilotage was formed and entrusted with the signalling. Before establishment of the System of Signalling, a beacon had been erected on the East Coast Demerara and vessels entering had to contribute to the cost of constructing the beacon.

    About a half mile east of Fort Groyne there was a block house which was used as a signal station for vessels arriving, and for signalling to Berbice. The coastal signalling was done by semaphore stations. In the published book 'The Lighthouse Work of Sir James Chance Baronet' reference is made to the exhibit of the lense 'and a fourth-order holophotal revolving, apparatus, which was used to exhibit the magneto-electric spark of Professor Holmes, and was afterwards sent to Demerara. In the London Gazette No.22 Notice to Mariners, change from fixed to revolving white light May 31 1864.

    A steel balcony at the top of the Lighthouse offers a panoramic view of Georgetown and West Coast Demerara. You must climb 138 stairs to access the balcony.

    See also:

    Video:

  • Current management body/ ports authority

    Guyana Transport and Harbours Department

  • Historical preservation societies/manager/operator

    Maintained by the National Trust of Guyana

  • Is the site vulnerable to coastal erosion?
    ---
  • Have you experienced any affects of climate change on the lighthouse?
    ---
  • Observations on the condition of the lighthouse?
    ---
  • Is the site open/closed to the public

    Open

  • Is the tower open/closed to the public

    Open

  • Latitude and Longitude

    Longitude -58.1643569, Latitude 6.8236966

  • On-site bookable accommodation available
    ---
  • Associated web addresses
  • Other details

    ARLHS GUY-001; Admiralty J6841; NGA 17292.

  • Which resources did you use to research this lighthouses?
added on June 17, 2022
Made In Smethwick: Lighthouses Around the World

In the 1800s, Chance Brothers & Co glassworks in Smethwick began making the hi-tech lenses that lighthouses use to warn ships of dangerous locations. By 1951, over 2,500 lighthouses around the world were fitted with a Chance lens.

Where?

Report a problem
|
Suggest a photo
[16, 6, 1, 6]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[10, 6]
[10, 10]
[10, 20]
[10, 30]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]