Hartland Point
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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".
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[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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 is an ideal way to explore the point, its landmarks and the scenery.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
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