Mumbles lighthouse, designed by William Jernegan ‘the architect of Regency
Swansea’, has been operating since 1793, and still fulfills an important
role. But peninsular Gower has another
lighthouse at its north-west corner, which though disused is the only cast-iron
wave-swept lighthouse in the British Isles . Surprisingly it is the second one to be built
at Whiteford Point.
During the 19th century the Loughor estuary was busy with ships
serving the coal and metal industries around Llanelli and Penclawdd. Initially a light ship was considered to aid
navigation, until in 1849 permission was sought from Trinity House to erect a
lighthouse on the sker or reef at Whiteford.
This was fraught with problems - the limited time that the site was
accessible between tides, and the frequent adverse weather conditions.
Nonetheless the first Whiteford lighthouse was erected in 1854 on timber
piles - it was 55ft high and visible from nine miles. Its roof, upper balcony and lantern
(excluding the glass panes) were all painted white. However it was liable to damage from drifting
wreckage and collisions from boats. Finally on 30th December 1864 a
single–masted sailing boat, the ‘Mary’ of Ipswich ,
failed to anchor properly, struck the lighthouse, and carried away two of the
uprights: this marked the end for the lighthouse.
It was replaced by the present structure, sited 317 yards further south,
and constructed of cast-iron. The first
cast-iron lighthouse stood not far away – on Swansea
Work at Whiteford commenced in August 1865, with materials being delivered
by boat, though as the base was only exposed for between one and two hours at
low tide, construction was extremely difficult.
The longest period when the site was dry was before and after the spring
tides, the best time to establish the foundations and fix the first ring of
cast-iron plates. The lighthouse was
built of eight cast-iron rings cast in Llanelli ironworks and bolted together
externally. The present Whiteford
lighthouse is 44ft high, and at high tide stands in 20ft of water.
Access was by an external ladder (now removed) on the eastern side, which led
to the balcony. A short ladder led to a
small upper balcony which enabled the glass of the dome to be cleaned. From the main balcony was a door into the
lantern room, with an interior ladder to the store/living room. Although there was provision for two keepers,
only one would have been in residence, alternating two weeks at Whiteford with
two weeks at the Llanelli harbour lighthouse.
After 55 years service Whiteford was de-commissioned in 1921, and replaced
by a 12ft high light on Burry Holms, a photograph of which hangs inside the
King’s Head in Llangennith. This was dismantled
in 1966, leaving what the late Nigel Jenkins described as “the cartwheel-sized
base” of the navigational beacon remaining on the island.
After sixty years Whiteford lighthouse shone again from October 1982 for five
years, when Llanelli Harbour Trust, aided financially by Burry Port Yacht Club,
installed an automatic Agar light to assist local sailors.
Subsequently Carmarthenshire County Council, the present owners, offered
the lighthouse for sale for just £1, though prospective buyers were
deterred by the £100,000 cost of restoration.
The Gower Society initiated two surveys in 1997, and the following year
carried out some consolidation of the base, but the future for this 
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