Lighthouses of Gibraltar

Lighthouses
* Europa Point

1841 (Sir Alexander Woodford). Active; focal plane 49 m (161 ft); white light occulting once every 10 s; also a continuous red light and second red light on 5.8 s, off 4.2 s, displayed at a focal plane of 44 m (144 ft). 19 m (62 ft) masonry tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with one red horizontal band in the middle of the tower. Fog horn (one blast every 20 s). A 2024 photo appears above, Trabas has Helmut Seger's closeup photo, Werning has a page with a fine photo, Wikimedia has an excellent photo by Allie Caulfield and more than 40 additional photos, a 2022 photo is available, C.W. Bash has a view from the sea showing the Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque behind the lighthouse, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Huelse has a historic postcard view in which the lighthouse is unpainted and another postcard view in which it is painted white. This historic lighthouse, typically British in design, is operated by the English lighthouse agency Trinity House. The lighthouse was refurbished and modernized in 1954-56; its height was raised by 6 ft (1.8 m) by addition of the section just below the gallery that accommodates the red sector light. In February 2014 plans were announced for construction of a football (soccer) stadium on Europa Point. Although the lighthouse would not have to be demolished, its beam would be obstructed by the stadium. As a result the light would be moved to a location atop the stadium. In September 2015 the government, under heavy pressure from a Save Europa Point movement, found another location for the stadium. Much more modest facilities for cricket and rugby will be built instead. In 2017 Trinity House replaced the 2nd order Fresnel lens with modern LED lamps and donated the historic lens to the University of Gibraltar. Located on Europa Point at the extreme southern tip of the Gibraltar peninsula, with the Mediterranean to the east, the Bahía de Algeciras to the northwest, and the Strait of Gibraltar leading southwest to the Atlantic Ocean. Very few lighthouses can claim such a dramatic and strategic location. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Trinity House. Site manager: Government of Gibraltar. . ARLHS GIB-001; Admiralty D2438; NGA 4220.

#Gibraltar South Mole ("A" Head) (1) Date unknown. Replaced before 2009. This was a 17 m (56 ft) round barbell-shaped cast iron tower surrounded by a hexagonal cast iron skeletal tower, essentially a copy of the surviving D Head Light (seen at right). The lighthouse was painted black. The lighthouse was replaced by a 15 m (49 ft) gray fiberglass post and more recently by a skeletal mast (focal plane 18 m (59 ft); one quick white flash every 2 s). Trabas has Capt. Peter Mosselberger's photo of the skeletal mast, Ruslan Nekrasov has a view from the sea of the fiberglass post, and Google has a satellite view of the location. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Gibraltar harbor, on the west side of the Rock. Site and tower closed, but there's a good view from the waterfront. Operator/site manager: Gibraltar Port Authority. ARLHS GIB-002. Active light: Admiralty D2442; NGA 4224. Gibraltar North Mole ("D" Head) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); quick-flashing red light. 17 m (56 ft) round barbell-shaped cast iron tower surrounded by a hexagonal cast iron skeletal tower; the lantern and original gallery have been removed and superseded by the skeletal tower as a means of raising the light. Lighthouse painted black. Trabas has Capt. Peter Mosselberger's photo (also seen at right) and Google has a satellite view. Located at the extreme end of the L-shaped north breakwater of Gibraltar harbor, on the west side of the Rock. Site and tower closed, but there's a good view from the waterfront. Operator/site manager: Gibraltar Port Authority. ARLHS GIB-005; Admiralty D2448; NGA 4236. #Gibraltar North Mole Elbow ("E" Head) Date unknown. Removed between 2008 and 2011. This was a 25 m (82 ft) square skeletal tower with a circular harbor control room, gallery, and watch room; the light was displayed from a tall skeletal extension of the original tower mounted in front of the control room. Lighthouse painted gray. Google's satellite view confirms that the tower has been removed. Formerly located at the elbow of the L-shaped north breakwater of Gibraltar harbor, near the cruise ship terminal. Site and tower closed. Operator/site manager:Gibraltar Port Authority. ex-Admiralty D2449.2; ex-NGA 4240.

North Mole ("D Head") Light, Gibraltar photo copyright Capt. Peter Mosselberger used by permission

The Rock of Gibraltar from the west, with the Europa Point Light at the tip of the cape on the right. Photo courtesy of Capt. Paul Breslin, USN, commander of the SS Altair; used by permission.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

• Shrine of Our Lady of Europe, Europa Point. This historic church was first established in 1309-1333, when Spain captured Gibraltar from the Moslem empire, and then re-established in 1462 when Spain recaptured Gibraltar for good. Lights were shone from the tower of the church throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, at least. The present building of the Shrine is not the original, however; the original building was demolished and rebuilt during the early years of the British occupation. Google has a satellite view.

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: East: Eastern Andalusia | West: Western Andalusia | South: Ceuta

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Posted January 24, 2006. Checked and revised June 23, 2024. Lighthouses: 4. Site copyright 2024 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.