Around Rame
Europe’s First Artificial Reef
In the early hours of Saturday 27th March 2004, hundreds of
well wishers gathered at Rame Hill over-looking Whitsand Bay, to see the
creation of Europe’s
first artificial reef.
The National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, with funds supplied by the South West Regional Development Authority, (SWRDA), had purchased 'HMS Scylla’, which was awaiting scrapping or disposal. Their intention was to sink her and so make the first artificial reef for diving and marine research in the UK.
She was thoroughly cleaned to avoid pollution and her masts and funnel were removed. All other equipment, which could have caused a diving hazard, was removed and numerous large holes were cut in the side of the hull for access.
She was then towed by 2 tugs to her final resting-place and scuttled close to a World War II wreck, the American Liberty Ship, James Egan Layne. Explosive charges in the hull were fired and she sank as planned in a very short time.
HMS Scylla 27 March 2004
Her position can be seen from the Lookout, marked by a line of buoys. The Ex-Naval Leander Class Frigate ‘HMS Scylla’ was one of the last three Naval Ships to be built at Devonport Royal Dockyard and completed in 1970. The others were ‘HMS Danae’ and ‘HMS Cleopatra’.
The Eddystone Lighthouse – the first lighthouse in England
The Eddystone Rocks are a dangerous reef 8.4 miles south of Rame Head and the present lighthouse, the fifth to be built there is clearly visible from our Station.
Henry Winstanley, a merchant who had lost several ships on the notorious rock, decided to build a lighthouse to ‘rid ships of this menace’. It was made of wood and completed in 1698. This lighthouse was virtually re-built a year later as it needed strengthening, but it was completely demolished in a winter storm in November 1703, whilst Winstanley was staying there.
Jon Rudyerd built the 3rd tower and charged a toll to passing ships. This tower was completed in 1708; it had a tapering tower, heavy ballast and even a ships mast up the middle to give it flexibility. It was a successful design and lasted 47 years until the candles, used for the light, set fire to the roof and burnt down the tower.
John Smeaton built the 4th tower between 1756 and 1759 out of granite blocks carefully dovetailed together to make one structure. This tower used candles for its light at first, then changed to an Argand oil lamp in 1810. The tower stood for 127 years, until signs of cracks in the cave below it were seen.
In 1881, the tower was dismantled piece by piece and re-erected on Plymouth
Hoe, where it still stands today. You can see the remains of the base of
Smeaton’s tower on the rocks at the side of the present lighthouse.
Eddystone Lighthouse
James Douglass then designed and built the 5th tower for Trinity House. This
is 49 metres high and was completed in 1882 and still in use today. Its original
oil powered lamps were replaced in 1956 by electricity, and subsequently by
solar power. A helicopter deck was added in 1980 and the station became automated
in 1982.
The light gives 2 white flashes every 10 seconds and has a range of 24 miles. The fog signal blasts three times every 60 seconds.
