Castle light is fully restored
LIGHT has emerged at the end of a tunnel for the historic Castle Breakwater lighthouse following its reopening yesterday after being encased in scaffolding for months.
The lighthouse had not had any major refurbishment carried out since it was built in 1866, until months ago when it was repointed to make way for the rebuild and reparation of its lantern.
‘We’d been putting the project off a bit but it needed doing because of the water ingress in the lantern. The cupola and lantern were stripped out and then got blasted to clean it,’ said Martin Stanfield, head of technical and estate services for Guernsey Ports.
‘There were a few challenges, such as corrosion which meant it went on for longer than expected, but it’s just good that it’s done now.’
Further complications including inaccessibility along the breakwater which meant materials had to be transported to the building site on the Guernsey Harbours work boat.
The renovations consisted of masonry work, keeping the lighthouse’s historic appearance, which included adjustments to external joints, repointing with lime-based mortar, and painting the inside with specialist paint to avoid further water ingress.
Mr Stanfield said the upgrades would provide longevity for the lighthouse.
‘We’ve done a lot of work which has been tough, but it means that we don’t expect to do many or any more reparations to the building for a long while.’
The project is part of Guernsey Ports’ ongoing maintenance regime, which focuses on ensuring that mariners sailing in Bailiwick waters are provided with reliable aids to navigation.
Mr Stanfield added that the 157-year-old lighthouse is not just important for its functionality.
‘It’s one of Guernsey’s most impressive landmarks and it’s so iconic, especially to us at Guernsey Ports.’
The final cost has not been calculated.
