Black & White - Beginning

The first conventional lighthouse started functioning in 1796 when the terrace of the officer's mess-cum-exchange building (the present day's Fort Museum at   Fort St. George) was chosen as the site for the first warning beacon which used a large lantern to aid vessels approaching the port in preventing the risk of shoals of Covelong in the south and the hidden sand banks in the north. This lighthouse with the oil wick lamp functioned till 1841. The second light house was erected during 1838-1844 on the north side of Fort St George. The construction of this regular lighthouse tower in the compound of the present High Court was taken up in 1838 and completed in 1840 on which the wick lamp was shifted as the supply of the new equipment by Stone Chance,   Birmingham   was delayed. The new flashing light consisting of Argand lamps and reflectors started functioning from 1 January 1844. It was functioning for the next 50 years until 1894, when in 1886, during the reconstruct...