CHENNAI LIGHTHOUSE

1. 1st Lighthouse (1796) :-

The City’s first light house functioned from the roof of the Officer’s Mess cum Exchange Building (Presently Fort Museum) in fort St. George. A lantern fed with oil bearing large wicks was used on the roof of the building since 1796 onwards for the lighthouse purpose. During that period the Sea was close to the walls of the fort. The goods and passengers were brought through the surf by boats to land on the sandy beach.

2. 2nd Lighthouse (1844):-

The City’s second lighthouse functioned from this tower in the present High court building compound. The 38 metres tall Doric fluted stone tower was exclusively erected north of Fort St. George and started functioning since 1st January 1844 onwards. The base of this lighthouse has the survey point of the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India. The lighthouse used flashing light consisting of argand lamps and reflectors till 1894.

3.3rd Lighthouse (1894) :-

The City’s third lighthouse functioned from this central main dome of the newly constructed Madras High court Building. This Indo-Saracenic Architecture style of Building was designed to accommodate the lighthouse equipment which started functioning since 1st June 1894 onwards. The Lighthouse set to a height of 175 feet above the sea level, used kerosene vapour lamps till the advent of electric power.

4. 4th Lighthouse (1977) :-

The City’s fourth modern lighthouse functions from this unique 46 metres RCC tall triangular red and white band building at Marina Beach, Santhome. The Lighthouse with powerful lighting equipment located at latitude 13°02,22 N longitude 80°.16,51’E and having a range of 28 nautical miles started functioning since 10th January 1977 onwards. Initially, this Lighthouse equipped with BBT Paris comprises of Incandescent Lamp 3000 Watt /110 V, now which has replaced by a cluster of three 150 Watt/230 V metal Halide Lamps since April 2004. This active lighthouse is situated within the city limits and to have an electric lift.

Master Ledger of CHENNAI LIGHTHOUSE(339.37 KB)