234 KINGSBRIDGE 



was accepted for the t various alterations in the masonry 

 department, and that of Messrs. Chance for the new lantern, 

 &c. 



The alterations embraced the erection of a new cottage 

 for the head keeper, the removal of certain of the stone 

 floors in the tower, the perforation of the tower for new 

 windows, and the closing of some of the old ones ; the 

 erection of a substantially-built stone store-room, for the 

 paraffin oils used for the light, &c. 



All these alterations appear to have been satisfactorily 

 completed. The new lamp, enclosed in its dome of crystal 

 prisms and reflectors, is considered the best which has yet 

 been erected; and the contractors, the Messrs. Chance, of 

 Birmingham, may well feel satisfied with the perfect manner 

 in which everything has been carried out. 



The arrangement for obviating the necessity of a fixed 

 light, in addition to the revolving one, to throw its bright 

 gleams on the sunken rocks and sand banks, which endanger 

 vessels when they approach too near the point, is most 

 ingeniously contrived ; a portion of the light being reflected 

 from the lamp on the land side, where its rays are not 

 required, and thrown down upon powerful prismatic re- 

 flectors on the story below, and then a second time reflected, 

 and allowed to pass through a large window in the desired 

 direction. The light itself is obtained from an arrangement 

 of a burner of four concentric wicks, supplied with paraffin 

 oil. 



Visitors to the Start Lighthouse will be struck with the 

 extreme neatness, as well as substantial quality, of every- 

 thing appertaining to the buildings. The apparatus and 

 interior fittings are beautifully bright, and although some 

 persons may imagine that the light-keepers must have much 



