31 October 2009
When it was built in 1853 it was a complete innovation using the latest technology of the time. It was designed by Belfast Engineer Alexander Mitchell using his patented “ScrewPile” technique which meant that the cast iron piles were actually screwed into the mudbank thus providing a solid platform. Mitchell designed the first successful screwpile lighthouse for installation at Maplin Sands on the Thames in 1838. The Spit lighthouse, the Dundalk Light in County Louth, and the Moville Light in Lough Foyle are the only survivors of the original Mitchell design in Ireland.
The Spit Lighthouse in Cobh
Mariners have admired St. Colman’s Cathedral in Cobh as a landmark for over 100 years – but have been familiar with the Spit lighthouse on the approaches to Cobh Road for over 150 years. The spider like structure stands on the eastern edge of the “Spit” bank which lies to the south of the main channel at Cobh and stretches over a mile east from Haulbowline Island.
When it was built in 1853 it was a complete innovation using the latest technology of the time. It was designed by Belfast Engineer Alexander Mitchell using his patented “ScrewPile” technique which meant that the cast iron piles were actually screwed into the mudbank thus providing a solid platform. Mitchell designed the first successful screwpile lighthouse for installation at Maplin Sands on the Thames in 1838. The Spit lighthouse, the Dundalk Light in County Louth, and the Moville Light in Lough Foyle are the only survivors of the original Mitchell design in Ireland.Mitchell lived in Cobh (then Queenstown) to supervise the building of the structure as he did with several of his designs which were also very popular on the east and south coasts of the USA. Several of his lighthouses there are listed historic buildings. Indeed his screwpile technique was used in many other locations world wide – imagine my surprise when sailing into harbour in Fiji when I sighted a replica of my Spit lighthouse in Cobh!
Mitchell – who was blind form the age of 20- died near Belfast at 88 years of age in 1868 leaving behind a legacy of “screw pile” lighthouses, piers and bridges all over the world.
Eddie English Blog
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