This little light of mine!

At the four points, these stand tall in Bim,

Their charm make things a little less dim,

A clear indicator that it’s now night time,

Can you solve this little riddle of mine?

What am I?

In case this riddle has you lost, hopefully this anecdote will point you to the answer. 

The month of June is typically known for its unpredictable weather as the Atlantic hurricane season officially opens. This was the case in 1951, with Barbados being greeted by weeks of “sultry weather and thick haze” (Barbados Advocate, 23 June, 1951, p. 5). The implication was that something was on the horizon, bad weather to come. Well, on June 22, the howling winds came a-calling and the rains started falling. According to the Barbados Advocate, the weather actually caught everyone slipping. The careenage turned a murky brown colour and the flood-prone communities of Carrington’s Village, Halls Road and Delamere Land transformed into veritable mudslides. Moreover, canefields, playing fields, roads and even pedestrians were all left drenched despite the warning signs (Barbados Advocate, 23 June, 1951, p. 5). 

Believe it or not, the fishermen seemed to be most blindsided by the torrential rains with some of them unfortunately losing their boats to the choppy waves. The first was owned by Frank Hurdle and ironically named Good Fortune. On this day, clearly all his luck had run out as it went down off the Garrison Point (Barbados Advocate, 23 June, 1951, p. 5). 

However, Hurdle was not the only seaman who met challenges that day. A similar fate befell Foul Bay resident and fisherman, Beresford Clarke. His boat was christened Dailene and what a dilemma indeed! Dailene left the shores at Browne’s Beach at 5:30 that very morning but things took a turn for the worst around midday. The crew members, Clarke and two others, found themselves struggling to see the shore through the haze and the vessel quickly capsized. This left them no other option but to tackle the waves themselves. Thankfully for for them, these men were quite resilient and well versed with the waves because they were forced to swim for an hour and a half before they were rescued by MacDonald Lynch aboard the Betty. 

Now, the lack of visibility is the key to this tale. After all, the inability to see significantly hinders a sea captain’s capacity to navigate, putting them and their passengers in grave danger. Even in the calmest of seas, a dark night can spell trouble for a captain who is unsure of the waters. It is for this reason that at four points of the island stand a lighthouse; the beacon of hope and comfort for many sea vessels arriving to Barbados in centuries past. With modern technology, these relics now serve more as historical landmarks than saving graces for ship captains. Nevertheless, these four lighthouses, each with their own charm and rich history are worthy of a little spotlight. 

At the pinnacle of the island stands the Harrison Point Lighthouse in St. Lucy. Also referred to as North Point, this one is actually the baby of the bunch. It was erected less than a century ago in 1926, and stands at 193 feet above sea level (Barbados Advocate, 20 June, 1951, p. 3). While it may have been the youngest of the four, its power and efficiency was not minuscule. The revolving light used at North Point had an impressive candle power of 210,000 which allowed its flashes to be seen as far as 20 miles away (Barbados Advocate, 20 June, 1951, p. 3). Something tells me that the passengers of Dailene would have been grateful for light power with as much range as that at Harrison Point.

You see, responsibility for guiding vessels along the south-west coast rested with Needhams Point Lighthouse in St. Michael. It is situated on the grounds of the Hilton Resort and very suitably overlooks the harbour of Carlisle Bay. Standing at only 60 feet above the sea, Needhams is the smallest on the island and in 1951, its white light was visible for up to seven miles on a clear day (Barbados Advocate, 20 June, 1951, p. 3). This perhaps explains why the crew aboard Dailene, which was traversing in the Carlisle Bay area were unable to spot the shore amidst the heavy rainfall. Size and power aside, Needhams Point had its own special feature that set it apart from the others. It boasts of being the first lighthouse on the island to be fitted with an electric lamp. Originally, an oil burner was used but the advent of electricity on the island provided a more modern alternative. Naturally, with its close proximity to the Electricity Company, it only made sense that it was the first to make the switch. 

From Needhams Point, we head to the East Coast where the giant of the four, Ragged Point Lighthouse, also referred to as East Point, in St. Philip was erected. Also referred to as East Point, it overlooks the many blues of the choppy Atlantic Ocean and a steep jagged rock edge. Needless to say, the vantage point from this spot is one to behold. It has stood at its current location since 1875, at an impressive height of 213 feet above the sea level. At its strategic position, it can actually be seen from as far as Farley Hill, St. Peter on a clear day. Ragged Point was equipped with a white light with a revolving rate of two seconds and a candle power of 37,000 (Barbados, 20 June, 1951, p. 3).  

Lastly, the most senior of these structures: South Point Lighthouse is located in Christ Church. Between 1851-52, this lighthouse was erected to guide seamen along the southern coast of the island. Like its counterparts, the vantage point from this spot is breathtaking, with views of Oistins, Silver Sands and the old Enterprise plantation. It too has one particularly unique feature. Unlike the other three which were made of stone, South Point was built with cast iron. Perhaps it was this feature that made this structure an international point of attraction from as early as its year of erection. According to the Advocate, it was highlighted in the Illustrated London News in 1851. The article noted that the Scottish engineer who built it, Mr. Alexander Gordon, was one of the first to use cast iron for this purpose due to the “economy, durability and rapidity of execution” of the material (Barbados, 20 June, 1951, p. 3). It is fair to say that Gordon was quite forward thinking because a century later, South Point Lighthouse was still standing strong and in good working condition. Even today, the longevity of the structure cannot be denied. Although currently out of commission, its lack of functionality is more so due to neglect and inadequate maintenance. 

It would be remiss of me to bring some attention to the faces behind these lighthouses…or inside to be more precise. After all, these beacons simply cannot function on their own. This reality was brought to the forefront during the Golden Jubilee of the South Point Lighthouse. In 1951, this stalwart lighting station celebrated its 100th year of existence and the Barbados Advocate aptly took the time to highlight the person who kept the operation running: the lighthouse keeper.  

Now, I am certain that many of us have been encouraged at one point or another to “be the light” in someone’s life. Well as it turns out, being responsible for guiding others through the darkness is easier said than done. This was the sentiment shared by the Head Keeper at South Point: Mr. Charles S. Thorne. While South Point was a century old, he celebrated his 57th birthday on June 20, 1951. His career started at that very lighthouse in 1935, where he started as a junior assistant but was moved to Ragged Point a few years later. However, he returned to his old stomping ground in 1945, this time as the man in charge. 

As to be expected, the lamps used in these structures were turned on from sundown to sunrise. During this time, the workers took turns punching a watch clock at 15 minute intervals and keeping a sharp eye out for ships that might be approaching. The latter was of particular importance because at a moment’s notice, things could go south (pun intended)! To make matters worse, ship captains were often quick to blame the lighthouse keeper for any mishap that occurred, so focus was mandatory. 

For these diligent workers, the ascension of the sun did not signal an end to their work. Instead, they took time after sunrise to ensure that all parts of the lighthouse were well maintained. This included tasks such as “filling the oil containers with kerosene, cleaning the wicks and smoke tubes and polishing the reflectors” (Barbados Advocate, 21 June, 1951, p. 5). Needless to say, it was a physically taxing job, especially when one considers that the keepers received only one day off per week. 

However, according to Mr. Thorne, the most difficult aspect of this job was not physical but mental. Not surprisingly, the lighthouse was not attracting many visitors during the night or day. To confirm this, he admitted that “the life of a lighthouse keeper is a hard one. It is isolated” (Barbados Advocate, 21 June, 1951, p. 5). In fact, the bread man was often the only new face he saw while at work. Furthermore, while other Bajans were tucked into their beds at night, Thorne had to stay awake, in any weather, to ensure that the lamps remained burning. 

I, myself, have ventured up the steep spiral steps of Ragged Point Lighthouse on a sunny clear day. It was a thrill-seeking experience but certainly not for the faint of heart or the unfit. The thoughts of manning the lamps at night during an episode of howling winds and heavy rains is unsettling to say the least. It is easy to imagine that enduring this job on a daily basis would leave one feeling enveloped by loneliness and a dark solitude. With this in mind, the work of Mr. Thorne and his small team was truly admirable and they were more than deserving of being honoured as they were during the 1951 Golden Jubilee. After all, they can no doubt be credited with the safe arrival of hundreds of individuals to the island’s shores and the long-lasting legacy of South Point Lighthouse.  

To conclude, there is certainly no debate that the four lighting stations made practical and cultural contributions to the island. Naturally, they were deemed as important because they were key to protecting many sea vessels and guiding them safely into the island’s harbours. While this is no longer their function, they continue to be appreciated from a cultural standpoint as each of them provides jaw-dropping views of our coastal landscapes. Still yet, more should be done to shed light on them and preserve them especially when taking into consideration their unique stories and characteristics, intertwined with the life-saving parts played by lighthouse labourers like Mr. Thorne.

Bibliography

“Ch. Ch. Lighthouse for Festival of Britain? ”. Barbados Advocate. June 20, 1951, 3.

“Lighthouse Life: It’s Hard: It’s Tough: It’s Isolated”. Barbados Advocate. June 21, 1951, 5. 

“Two Fishing Boats Sink: Crew Safe”. Barbados Advocate. June 23, 1951, 5.