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Gibbs Hill Lighthouse

Fl WR 10s🇧🇲Bermuda, BMOperational

Location & Light Range

About Gibbs Hill Lighthouse

Also known as: Gibb's Hill Lighthouse

Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, a round white tower constructed of cast iron, stands 36 meters tall. Its focal height reaches 108 meters above sea level, providing a geographic range of 26 nautical miles. The light emits a white flash every 10 seconds. Built in 1846, it features a Fresnel lens installed in 1904. The tower has 185 steps leading to the top. For much of its operational history, the lens revolved on a mercury bath, a system later automated in 1964.

Why it matters: This structure is notable as one of the earliest lighthouses globally constructed from cast iron and is the taller of Bermuda's two lighthouses.

Background
Built in 1844 by Cottam and Hallen of Cornwall Road, Lambeth; in their works within sight of Waterloo Bridge Erected by the Royal Engineers, the Gibb's Hill Lighthouse is the taller of two lighthouses on Bermuda, and one of the first lighthouses in the world to be made of cast-iron. This is because at that time, steel still was not able to be bent. The optic consists of a Fresnel lens from 1904 revolving on steel bearings. However, for most of its history, the lens revolved on a bed of 1,200 pounds (540 kg) of mercury. While it is certainly not extremely tall in lighthouse standards, the hill that it stands on is one of the highest on the island. The light's focal plane on Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, therefore, is at 354 feet (108 m) above sea level. Airplanes can see its flashes from over 100 miles (160 km) away. The lighthouse has 185 steps to the top in eight flights. Until 1964, most of the light was run by hand, but in June of that year, the whole system was automated and runs on electricity. Sixty-thousand people ascended the lighthouse in 1985, and it continues to be a popular tourist attraction. A radar antenna for marine shipping was installed atop the lighthouse in 1987 supported on a steel space frame fixed at the original bolt locations. The radar and supporting frame were undamaged in September 2003 despite the oscillation of the tower during Hurricane Fabian. This movement caused 2 imperial gallons (9.1 L; 2.4 US gal) of mercury to slop out of the lens support troug

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Fl WR 10s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
WR
Flash Count
1 flash
Interval
10s
Raw Code
Fl.W. period 10s
Focal Height
108m
Geographic Range
26NM

Construction & History

Year Built
1846

References & Identifiers

Admiralty No.
J4550
NGA No.
J 4550
Wikipedia
Read on Wikipedia →
Wikidata
Q5558969 →
OpenStreetMap
View on OSM →

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
36m
Tower Shape
round
Tower Color
white
Material
cast_iron

Structure: White round metal tower; 135. AIS (MMSI No 993101901). W. 237°-223°, W. 228°-229°

Location

City
Bermuda
Country
🇧🇲BM
Latitude
32.2527°
Longitude
-64.8345°

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do mariners identify Gibbs Hill Lighthouse at night?+
Gibbs Hill displays the characteristic Fl WR 10s — 1 wr flash every 10 seconds. Each lighthouse has a unique flash pattern published in the List of Lights, allowing mariners to positively identify it and distinguish it from other navigation aids in the area. The wr color may indicate a specific sector or warning zone.
Which ports and harbors does Gibbs Hill Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Gibbs Hill Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Southampton at 0.8 NM to the WSW. Other ports served include Sandys (3.3 NM NNW), Hamilton (3.4 NM NE), Freeport (3.8 NM N), Kings Wharf (4.2 NM N). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Gibbs Hill Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Gibbs Hill Lighthouse is currently operational. It is actively maintained and continues to emit its characteristic light signal for marine navigation. Most modern lighthouses are automated and monitored remotely by the national maritime authority.
How can I track vessels near Gibbs Hill Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Gibbs Hill Lighthouse in real time using MarineRadar. The platform shows live AIS positions of ships in the area, including vessel name, type, flag, speed, and course. Use the "Track Vessels Nearby" button on this page to open the live map centered on this lighthouse.