The independent nation of Barbados is located in the Atlantic to the east of the other islands of the Lesser Antilles, about 160 km (100 miles) east of St. Vincent. The island has a population of about 275,000 and a strong British heritage, having been a British colony from 1627 until it became independent in 1966.
Barbados has four historic lighthouses. Three are listed as active, although there are reports that they are not always in service. All four are endangered by neglect and are much in need of restoration. The active lights are operated by Barbados Port, Inc., but presumably the buildings are owned by the Government of Barbados. The Barbados National Trust has not been involved, so far, in lighthouse preservation.
Thanks to Sharon Arrindell for providing photos and information on these lighthouses.
ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from Volume J of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA numbers are from Publication 110.
- General Sources
- Barbados Photo Gallery - Other Structures
- Stephen Mendes has photos of the three active lighthouses of Barbados.
- Barbados Lighthouses
- Photos and accounts by Joseph Nicholson.
- Leuchttürme von Barbados
- Photos by a German traveler.
- Lighthouses in the Caribbean
- Aerial photos posted by Marinas.com.
- Leuchttürme Mittelamerikas und der Karabik auf historischen Postkarten
- Historic postcard views posted by Klaus Huelse.
- Lighthouses
- * Ragged Point (East Point)
- 1875. Active; focal plane 65 m (213 ft); white flash every 15 s. 29.5 m (97 ft) stone tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern and watch room black. The keeper's house and other light station buildings are abandoned and in ruins. Bas Leenders's 2009 photo is at right, Mendes has a 1996 photo, Carlos Granier has a good August 2006 photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a bluff above the Atlantic about 2 km (1.2 mi) northwest of East Point, the easternmost point of the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS BAR-003; Admiralty J5804; NGA 15096.
- * South Point
- 1852 (William Gordon). Active; focal plane 44 m (145 ft); three white flashes every 30 s. 27 m (89 ft) cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. 1-story keeper's house, abandoned. The lighthouse was exhibited at London’s Great Exhibition in 1851, then reassembled on the island. Mendes's 1998 photo and Nicholson's photos in 2000 showed the lighthouse to be rusted and much in need of restoration. The lighthouse was finally refurbished and painted in 2004, and the photo at right shows the tower with its new paint job. Marinas.com has recent aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. Located near the southernmost point of the island; Site open, tower closed. ARLHS BAR-004; Admiralty J5806; NGA 15100.
- * Needhams Point
- 1855. Inactive. 13 m (43 ft) octagonal masonry tower with lantern and gallery, painted white, lantern and gallery black. The active light is a 9 m (30 ft) post light (focal plane 13 m (43 ft); flash every 8 s; white shown to south and west, red to north and east). Recently Hilton Hotels built a large new hotel next to this tower; Hilton now owns the lighthouse and has restored and painted its exterior. A 2007 photo and a 2009 photo are available, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and the light is just below the hotel in a Google satellite view. Located at the south end of Carlisle Bay, southwest of Bridgetown. Site open, tower status unknown. ARLHS BAR-002; Admiralty J5807; NGA 15108.
- Harrison Point
- 1925. Active; focal plane 59 m (193 ft); two white flashes every 15 s. 26 m (85 ft) concrete block tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern red. Keeper's quarters and other light station buildings abandoned and in ruins. Rosalie Beasley's photo is at the top of this page, Mendes has a closeup 1997 photo, a good 2002 photo and a 2008 photo are available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and a Google satellite view is available. One earlier visitor reported the lighthouse is on the grounds of a prison and is not accessible to the public, but recent photos indicate this is no longer the case. Located at the northwesternmost point of the island, about 8 km (5 mi) north of Speightstown. Site and tower closed. ARLHS BAR-001; Admiralty J5814; NGA 15128.
Harrison Point Light, December 2006
photo copyright Rosalie Beasley; used by permission
Ragged Point Light, January 2009
Creative Commons photo
by Bas Leenders
South Point Light, November 2004
anonymous Creative Commons photo