Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB22/05/005 A

Address :
Blackhead Lighthouse McCrea's Brae Whitehead Co Antrim BT38 9NZ

Townland:
Castletown

---

Survey 2:
B+

Date of Listing:
22/06/2010 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

---

OS Map No:
84-15

IG Ref:
J4878 9345

---

Owner Category

Public Body

Exterior Description And Setting

This is a record of this lighthouse complex that consist of Blackhead Lighthouse, its gates and gate piers, fog signal station and both munitions stores, which are each recorded separately in this record under the relevant subtitles. Lighthouse: An extensive lighthouse complex at Blackhead, a rocky promontory overlooking the Irish Sea just north of Whitehead. The complex comprises the lighthouse (HB22/05/005A), fog signal station, two munitions stores, and gates and gate pillars, lighthouse keepers' houses (005B), lighthouse superintendent’s house (005C), The lighthouse, which dates from 1901, is a partly-detached three-stage structure incorporating a two-stage masonry tower and metal lantern room on top. The tower is slightly tapered and of octagonal cross-section. It is 16m high and stands 45m above mean high water spring, giving a range of 27 nautical miles. Its walls are painted and rendered (probably over stone). The (only) entrance to it is via an internal passage from external ground level (described below). There is a window opening to the east cant of the semi-basement (Stage 1), with chamfered segmental head, stepped jambs and shouldered cill, all of finely-dressed granite. The original window frame has been removed to accommodate ventilator ducts from internal machinery. There are identically detailed window openings on the north, east and south cants of Stage 2 at the top of the masonry section, but each with a 1x2-paned top-opening casement; the upper pane is sloped outwards. Above this floor is the lantern (Stage 3), a 16-sided (hexadecagon) cast-iron structure with a shallow canted metal roof surmounted by a finialed ventilator. This vent was originally designed to remove the smoke and heat from the oil lamps which were used up to electrification in 1965. A small external access ladder runs vertically up the external face of the lantern on its SW side. The lantern's bottom section comprises fluted metal panels. Its middle and upper sections comprise lattice glazed panels (the diagonal astrgals only partially block the light beam whereas vertical astragals would block it, if only for a split second). The window panels are painted on the lantern's five landward cants to block the light beam on this side (white on the outside, black inside). There is an external gallery around the lantern, used for cleaning the outsides of the lantern's windows. It is accessed from a small cast-iron door at the base of the lantern and comprises dressed granite slabs which are supported on moulded granite brackets (three per cant). A four-bar metal handrail runs around the gallery, to which two aerials and a flagpole have been affixed. Each of the railings cast-iron corner posts has a mushroom-shaped finial. The lighthouse is connected to the lighthouse keepers' houses by a single-storey passage accessed from their basement. This connecting structure has a flat roof with three-bar metal handrail along each side. Its walls are detailed as the lighthouse and have square-headed openings comprising tongue-and-groove doors to the north elevation and 2/2 sash windows to both north and south elevations. Modern galvanised steel security grilles have been fitted to all the external openings along both sides of the passage. A short distance SW of the lighthouse is a well, the head of which is capped with concrete. Gates and Gate Pillars: Entrance gates and wall of 1902 delineating the perimeter of Blackhead Lighthouse complex. The entrance gates are at the SW corner of the site, at the end of the single-track McCrea's Brae. They comprise a vehicular gate and narrower pedestrian gate, both of wrought-iron. The former has six horizontal bars and a scrolled bar at top on either side of a central ornate finial. The horizontal members are braced with two sets of diagonal bars. The pedestrian gate is of similar construction, but smaller. Both gates share a common cast-iron latch post of square cross-section and surmounted by a boss finial. Each gate is hung from a square post of rock-faced basalt blocks laid to courses and embellished with stepped brick quoins and an oversailing pyramidal concrete cap. On the seaward side, a metal stile gives access to a public footpath which leads around and through the complex to the bottom of the cliff (and onward to Whitehead). A stone wall delineates the southern and eastern boundary of the premises. It is of random rubble basalt, brought to courses. It runs just in from the cliff edge, from the entrance gates to where the footpath descends steeply to the sea. It also demarcates the public footpath where it passes between the lighthouse and fog station. From the north end of the wall, a barbed wire fence runs westwards up the slope and southwards along the steep scarp back to the entrance gates. This is evidently a modern fence, but the type and extent of the original fence is now uncertain. Fog Signal Station: A detached single-bay, single-storey fog signal station of 1902 at the edge of a cliff projecting from the east end of the Blackhead Lighthouse complex. The building is accessed by a flight of concrete steps which runs from the lighthouse and underneath the public footpath leading to the sea. The path is carried under the footpath in a segmental arch and is faced to both sides by walls of random rubble brought to courses. The building has a flat concrete roof which slopes slightly to the east to a plastic gutter and steel downpipe. The walls (probably concrete) are rendered with cement. There is a tongue-and-groove timber door on the west elevation, at the end of the access passage. There is a square-headed window to each of the other elevations, all with shouldered granite cills; they are now covered over with sheets of galvanised metal. Affixed to the SE corner of the building is a radar mast. Munitions Store 1: A detached single-bay, single-storey former munitions store of 1902 on the left-hand side of the driveway to Blackhead Lighthouse. The building is of mass concrete throughout (cast in situ), with a slightly sloping flat roof and cement-rendered walls. Apart from ventilators, the only opening is a tongue-and-groove door on the south elevation. Munitions Store 2: A detached two-bay, single-storey former munitions store (for explosives used during fog) of 1902 overlooking the Blackhead Lighthouse complex. Granite steps and a concrete footpath lead up to it from the driveway down to the lighthouse. The store has a swept curved mass concete roof with projecting eaves and verges. Small metal lightning conduction at apex of east gable. Walls are cement rendered (probably over mass concrete). The east gable has a tongue-and-groove door at left and 3/3 sash timber window at right (with vertical metal security bars). The latter has a shouldered dressed granite cill. There is also a small ventilaor in the apex of this gable. All the other elevations are devoid of openings.

Architects

Douglass, William

Historical Information

Lighthouse: Blackhead Lighthouse was designed by William Douglass, Engineer to the Commissioners of Irish Lights. Its purpose was to aid shipping in and out of Belfast Lough and it complemented a lighthouse at Mew Island, on the Copeland Islands, which the Commissioners had opened in 1884. The contract for its construction of the new light at Blackhead was awarded to William Campbell & Sons in July 1899. Its light was generated by a six-wick oil lamp and was first exhibited on 1 April 1902. It is marked as "Black Head Lighthouse (white light revolving" on the 1902 OS six-inch map. The tower was originally painted red but its colour was changed to its present white in 1929. In Sept 1965, the lighthouse was converted from oil to electric and the intensity of the light increased to give a range of 27 nautical miles. Its character was also changed to its present-day 0.15 second flash every three seconds. Since 1 Aug 1975, the lighthouse has been automated. Gates and Gate Piers: The gates and walls form part of the original lighthouse complex, built between 1899 and 1902 by the Commissioners of Irish Lights under the direction of their Chief Engineer, William Douglass. The complex opened on 1 April 1902. Fog Signal Station: This building was part of the lighthouse complex built between 1899 and 1902 by the Commissioners of Irish Lights under the direction of their Chief Engineer, William Douglass. It opened on 1 April 1902. During 1918, the fog signal character was altered to one explosion every two minutes, but from Jan 1919 it reverted to its previous character of one explosin every five minutes. From Sept 1965, the explosive fog signal was accompanied by a flash of light when operating at night. In Feb 1972, the signal was discontinued. Around five years ago it was leased to the Belfast Harbour Commissioners for use as a radar station to monitor shipping in Belfast Lough. Munitions Store 1: This building was part of the lighthouse complex built between 1899 and 1902 by the Commissioners of Irish Lights under the direction of their Chief Engineer, William Douglass. It opened on 1 April 1902. It was used to store a ready supply of Tonite brought from the nearby munitions store 2. It ceased to be used as an explosives store when the fog signal station was discontinued in 1972. Munitions Store 2: This building was part of the lighthouse complex built between 1899 and 1902 by the Commissioners of Irish Lights under the direction of their Chief Engineer, William Douglass. It opened on 1 April 1902. It was used to store Tonite, an electrically-detonated explosive made from barium nitrate and guncotton and which was used at times of heavy fog when the lighthouse optic was ineffective. It ceased to be used as an explosives store when the fog signal station was discontinued in 1972. References: Primary Sources 1. Commissioners of Irish Lights webpage . 2. PRONI OS/6/1/47/3. Third edition OS six-inch map, Co Antrim sheet 47 (1902). Secondary Sources 1. F. Pelly (2005), ‘William Douglass - Designer of Fastnet Lighthouse’ in Beam, Journal of the Irish Lighthouse Service, vol. 33 (2004-05). 2. Mr Dillon McCarthy, Lighthouse Keeper.

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form F. Structural System I. Quality and survival of Interior J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

X. Local Interest Z. Rarity V. Authorship Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

Lighthouse: The vertical spatial arrangement at Blackhead is typical of many lighthouses, with a plant room at the bottom, watch room in the middle and lantern at top, all linked by a spiral staircase. The lattice fenestration of the lantern is a structural form common to most lighthouses as well, designed to give a light uninterupted by the glazing bars. Although the equipment inside the building has been modernised, the original floors, stairs, banisters and doors remain intact. The lighthouse is (by definition) a prominent landmark and occupies a spectacular setting above the Irish Sea. It also has group value with the other buildings in this complex. Hisorically, the inception of the lighthouse is of interest, facilitating shipping to and from Belfast, then a growing industrial city. Such buildings are also relatively scarce compared with other maritime and industrial structures. Gates and Gate Piers: The boundary wall around the site is a feature of the site and accentuates its spectacular clifftop setting. The ornateness of the wrought-iron entrance gates is of particular note. Fog Signal Station: This building was an integral part of the functioning of the original complex, coming into its own when dense fog precluded the effective use of the lighthouse optic. It occupies a spectacular setting on the edge of the cliff and has group value in the context of the lighthouse complex as a whole. Munitions Store 1: The utilitarian outward appearance of this building belies its unusual internal construction. It also has group value in the context of the lighthouse complex. Munitions Store 2: The unusual function of this building as an explosives store is reflected in its structural form and internal layout. It also has group value in the context of the lighthouse complex.

General Comments

Notes c1999 from John Connell, Lighthouse keeper. In his 63rd year in Irish Lights (retired at 60, now aged about 82) 'On lighthouses ye'd always get lots of birds to eat, blackbirds and thrushes wad always be killed against the light, not starlings, they're too intelligent, members of the crow family, they'd stick their undercarriages out and skid past the light, but every morning the first thing the keeper on watch wud do was to go round and pick up all the dead bitrds, and throw them in a pot with a piece of old onion. But ye has to watch them for they'd fall to pieces, they're so small, and not muich eating on them, but better flavour that a Moy Park. Thye'd make lovely soup , and you'd have cold birds for yir tea at night.' The water in lighthouses was unfiltered rainwater. All lighthouses have a noti ce up.'Tank open/tank closed'. The tank was up on the roof and before ye'd run water into it ye had to get all the gash washed off it, salt, gull dung etc, and check the taste till it was running cleqar. Non smoker's were good for testing it. Two keepers were necessary to run a light in watches, and a third keeper was needed if there was a foglight (someone to fire the maroons every five minutes). There's a spring down beloww, 'comes bubbling up above a limestone crack and its like lemonade, heavily dosed with lime, like liquid gold it is'. First radar station was at Blackhead, next at Copelands but removed because of effect on birds. Used to keep meat and pigs feet on the shelf above the earth closet. Underground tank in front of houses stored rainwater for washing. Irrigation channels on ground floor front room cill for rain blowing in. Built-in presses as on plans, also dressers all in yellow pine. Cast iron fireplaces in bedrooms generally, but modern in ground floor fires. Wistle pipes partly present (if you were't on watch you put in a a stopper)." No First Survey photograph. "Submission 9. Entered by LF 03/06/2009. Amendments entered by LD 08-07-09 Same address as HB22/05/005 A" Database amended prior to HBC meeting. AT 01.12.2009 26/02/2009 26/02/2009 Yes Yes Not Required Awaiting Consultations No Fred Hamond Ward Survey 6.10 0 03/06/2009 UC No 0 5 4 0 1 0 Not_Listed B+ B+ 01/07/2009 Yes Not Required Not Required -1 0 Yes "Blackhead Lighthouse Former Superintendent's house McCrea's Brae Whitehead Co Antrim BT38 9NZ" Not_Listed B+ 4 Awaiting Consultations 26/02/2009

Date of Survey

26 February 2009