Marine navigation Beacon

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Small navigation beacon set on a small rocky out crop/island at the entrance to Strangford Lough, on the shores of Granagh Townland, just south of Portaferry.

The beacon is one of a pair the other on the opposite coast of the Lough, and resembles a small round tower, about c.8m in height and tapering from c.2m at its base to a small [?]light at the top c.0.5m in width. Technically this structure may not be a ‘beacon’ but a ‘lighthouse’, as it appears to be topped with a light.

Historical information

This 'beacon’ may have been constructed in the mid to later 1800s and was probably originally oil fired. The authors of this survey were informed by the Commission of Irish Lights that this ‘beacon’ should be classed as a ‘lighthouse’ because it is topped with a light.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/3/32/2 OS maps, 1st rev., 1860, Down sheet 32

Secondary sources
1 Information supplied by the Commission of Irish Lights (16 Lower Pembroke St., Dublin 2)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

One of a limited number of navigation beacons or small ‘lighthouse’, of possible mid to later 19th century construction and still in use.