The Start Point lighthouse is located in the South Hams district on the Devon coast, a county in southwestern England – United Kingdom.
The lighthouse indicates Start Point, a protruding rocky coastal area in the vicinity of Dartmouth that poses a danger to shipping. It also acts as a navigation tool for ships sailing through the Channel.
The lighthouse was built in 1836 to a design by James Walker, chief engineer at Trinity House, The tower was the first in England to be equipped with a Fresnel lens manufactured by the English company Cookson Glass Company, based in Newcastle,The tower light was first lit on June 1, 1836. The light source consisted of oil lamps that sometimes went out unintentionally when during a storm the flame was ignited to such an extent that the lamp glass was crushed. Later a lens was installed that was made to the design of the Scottish engineer Alan Stevenson. A clock mechanism powered the lens so that a white rotating light became visible that generated a glare every minute.
In 1862 a fog bell was erected and this could strike for 4 and a half hours without attention, in 1876 it was replaced by a powerful fog siren which could be heard as far away as Salcombe.
On the walled domain there are, next to the tower, two guard houses, a pigsty and a building where water was extracted.The lighthouse originally housed guards on the ground and first floors. In 1871, new caretaker’s houses were built nearby.
The Start Point lighthouse is Open to the public in summer months
Access : Coordinates:50.22144, -3.63863 / Οff the A379 between Dartmouth and Kingsbridge at Stokenham, South Devon. Signposted
LightHouse Specifications :Year first constructed : 1836 , Year first lit :N/A , Construction: masonry tower ,Tower shape:cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern , Height : 92 feet (28 m) , Focal height : white: 204 feet (62 m)red: 180 feet (55 m) , range : 25 nautical miles (46 km),Fog signal: blast every 60s.
Facilities : Lighthouse cottages / Visitor Centre,There is a visitor center in the complex and interested parties can participate in a tour.Open to the public in summer months / Parking / Toilets
Openung hours : The Visitor Centre is not open every day – do call in advance if you wish to take a tour
Activities : sightseeing : photo opportunities / Trekking , along the South West Coast Path / Guided tours / Spot marine wildlife / Stay in a lighthouse cottage /
Go next : Beesands Beach / Lannacombe Beach / Slapton Sands and Torcross Beach / Strete Gate Beach / Dartmouth
