Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB16/04/009

Address :
Haulbowline Lighthouse Greencastle Newry Co Down BT34

Townland:
Greencastle

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Survey 2:
B+

Date of Listing:
27/09/2002 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Light House/ Navigation Mark

Former Use
Light House/ Navigation Mark

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
Yes

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
284 (10K) inset

IG Ref:
J2590 0890

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Owner Category

Miscellaneous

Exterior Description And Setting

The tower has been erected on a rock which is exposed only at Spring tides. It is approximately 38m high above high water level. It is located inside the Bar, a shallow limestone rock cill which crosses the mouth of the lough and through which a channel has been cut to allow deep draught vessels to pass. The tower is of ashlar granite construction with a bell-mouth splay at its foot. This bell mouth profile reflects the fact that it is wave-washed and the need to reduce the impact of wave action (a feature not found on land-based lights). Attached to the base of the tower is a landing stage made up of large blocks of pre-cast concrete, with a vertical metal ladder set therein. From the top of the stage is a short vertical metal ladder affixed to the wall of the tower which leads up to a projecting granite balcony supported on four moulded granite brackets. This balcony formerly had a cast-iron railing, of which the base markings survive, having been replaced with a galvanised metal rail. A pair of wooden doors lead to the interior. To the left of the ladder is a galvanised steel derrick. Half way up on the seaward side is a small projecting structure known as the half tide room (see also historical description). It has six canted sides and curved roof (surmounted by a ball finial). The sides are horizontally divided into three sections. The lower two bands are infilled with metal sheets, each of which has a motif cast in its centre on both outside and inside faces: harp, Bodicea, sextant, rig schooner, globe, map and compass, anchor. The top band is glazed, except for one infilled panel. A very narrow balcony runs around the outside, with a white painted handrail made up of vertical and diagonal cast-iron elements in Chinoiserie style (mimicking bamboo). There is a decorative projecting Chinese dolphin to each corner post of the room, level with the bottom of the glazed section. Around the top of the tower is a deep moulded cornice. The continuation of the inside skin of the tower forms a parapet wall around the inside of the tower. Around the outside (on the rim of the cornice) is a white-painted handrail similar to that around the half-tide room. The balcony created by the inner parapet and outer handrail and which runs around the curb of the tower proper is accessed by a pair of metal doors from 7th floor. On the Co Down (Cranfield) side of the balcony, a small wooden platform sits over the handrail, with a flagpole beside. This was formerly for semaphore signalling. On the seaward side of the balcony a vertical foghorn sits on a concrete platform cast in situ on top of the stonework. There is also a radio communications mast. The parapet has a moulded cornice to the top of which is a metal lantern. It comprises a 16-sided white-painted cast-iron framework with glazing to all sides. The corner posts are fluted. Each side is divided into three glazed panels. At the bottom corner of each top panel is a decorative Chinese dolphin projection to the corner post. These may have been used as handles when cleaning the outside of the glass. The lantern is surmounted by a shallow cornice from which rises a ribbed curved metal roof surmounted by a cylindrical ventilator (the light was originally a paraffin burner). This can be accessed from the balcony by a vertical metal ladder attached to the outside of the lantern. A lightning conductor runs from the lantern down the outside face of the tower to below the watermark. Leading lights Also associated with the lighthouse are two leading lights to the east. Each comprises a white-painted structure supported on a metal skeleton and containing a small light (now gas lit) and large red alignment triangle. The eastern most one, near Green Island, is higher to ensure it is not obscured by that to its west (on Vidal Bank). In order to pass through the deepened section of the limestone bar across the mount of the lough, the two lights are aligned. The vessel continues along this course with the lighthouse to port (left). Once the turning light on the lighthouse is visible, vessels alter course towards the middle of the channel and so on to Greenore and Warrenpoint. Leading light 1 at J 2518 1064 and light 2 is at grid J 2481 1095.

Architects

Halpin, George

Historical Information

Although a lighthouse at Cranfield Point had been in operation since 1803, its location was found to be ineffective in providing a safe passage for vessels. In 1817, a group of Newry merchants requested the Dublin Ballast Board to erect a new light. Designed by George Halpin Snr, it was erected under his direction by the Ballast Board and its light was first exhibited (as a paraffin light) on 1 Sept 1824; there was also a half tide light half-way up the seaward side of the tower and a fog bell. The lighthouse takes its name from the rocky bank on which its stands, a Norse name meaning ‘haunt of the eels’. Its fixed white light was superseded by an occulting, then flashing light. The light was converted to electricity and de-manned in 1965 (it was possibly the first Irish lighthouse to be automated). From 1824 to 1922, the keepers and their families lived at Cranfield Point (HB 16/04/008). They then moved to new dwellings at Greencastle (HB 16/04/13 and 14). In 1868, the Carlingford Lough Commissioners deepened the channel through the Bar. This made the half tide light redundant (until then this had been exhibited during hours of darkness to indicate when the water was high enough for the bar to be crossed; a black cone was used instead of the fixed white light during daylight hours). It was in connection with this new channel that two screw-pile leading lights were erected to the west of the light house and exhibited in 1873. They were converted from oil to acetylene in 1922. The Greenore Point harbour light, on the Co Louth side of the lough, was erected by George Halpin Snr in 1830. It was abandoned in 1986. Historically the lighthouse has been of great social significance. Its presence at the mouth of Carlingford Lough reflects the importance of Greenore and Newry as busy trading ports until the early 20th century. The fact that it superseded an earlier lighthouse at nearby Cranfield underlies the need for a lighthouse in this area. The half tide balcony – the only such example on a lighthouse anywhere in Ulster – recalls the hindrance created by the Bar before a channel was cut through it in the 1860s. The two leading lights and turning light also signify the constraints necessary for the safe passage of shipping after the channel was deepened. The lighthouse also retains vestiges of the original equipment – notably the lantern ventilator and lead-weight wall recess – and other detailing such as the semaphore platform and wall recess for the range on the mess floor (indicating that it was once manned). This is one of 11 lighthouses which were originally manned in N. Ireland (the others are, from south to north: St John’s Point, South Rock, Donaghadee, Lighthouse Island (2), Mew Island, Black Head, Maidens (2) and Rathlin (2). Aside from the Maidens, off the Co Antrim coast, and South Rock, off the Co Down coast, this is the only wave washed light in the province and therefore a rare example of an unusual type of structure. Secondary Sources: 1. W. Long ‘Bright Light, White Water: the Lighthouses of Ireland’ (Dublin 1997), pp 21-22. 2. P. Keane, ‘Haulbowline Lighthouse’, in 12 Miles of Mourne (1999). 3. M. O Mainnin, Place Names of Northern Ireland, vol.3; The Mournes (QUB 1993), p.59

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form E. Spatial Organisation F. Structural System G. Innovatory Qualities J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

W. Northern Ireland/International Interest Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance Z. Rarity X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Architecturally, this is a well-proportioned and well-executed example of lighthouse. It is enhanced by the somewhat unusual embellishment on the half-tide and lantern balconies. Its spatial organisation – one function per floor - is also characteristic of lighthouses. Although all the original workings have been removed, this was necessary to ensure its continued operation and has been a constant feature of lighthouses. This particular light is of special significance in this respect as it was the first in Ireland to be automated. The structure’s setting is enhanced by the fact that it is entirely surrounded by water, yet visible from the shore. It also has group value with the two leading lights and Bar channel.

General Comments

Date of Survey

21 January 1999