St. Tudwal's Lighthouse
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St Tudwal's Lighthouse is situated on the small island of St Tudwal's West, off Penrhyn Du, Tremadoc Bay, Gwynedd. The Lighthouse marks the north end of Cardigan Bay.
The site of the lighthouse was purchased by Trinity House in 1876 for the sum of £111, and the construction of the tower and dwellings completed the following year. The stone tower is 10.7m (35ft) high. The light has a range of 26 km (14 nautical miles) and is 46 metres (151 ft) above high water. The tower is painted white.
In 1922 the light was converted to acetylene operation and was operated by means of a sun valve. This mechanism, which was invented by the Swedish lighthouse engineer, Gustaf Dalen, consists of an arrangement of reflective gold-plated copper bars supporting a suspended black rod; when lit by the sun the black rod absorbs the direct heat and that reflected from the other bars and expands downwards thereby cutting off the supply of gas. Dalen is also famous for having designed the Aga cooker after being partially blinded by a gas explosion.
Following the introduction of the acetylene equipment the lighthouse was demanned and the keepers dwellings next to the tower subsequently sold in 1935. The cottages are now privately owned and used as a holiday home.
St Tudwal's Lighthouse was modernised and converted to solar powered operation in 1995.
By road: Off A499
By Boat: Access is difficult with only an unsheltered stone jetty, no beaches and 200 ft. cliffs. Abersoch Angling (telephone 01758 71264) arrange boat trips around the islands.
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