Pladda Lighthouse

The Pladda Lighthouse is situated at the southern end of the island of Pladda in western Scotland, on Shore Road.

History

• The lighthouse dates from 1790 and was designed by Thomas Smith. It was commissioned by the Commissioners of the Northern Lights as the first light on the Clyde. The lighthouse had both an upper and a lower light to distinguish it from the three other lighthouses in the Firth of Clyde.
• In 1876, Pladda became one of the third stations to have a foghorn. A powerful flashing system replaced the "double lights" in 1901.

Architecture

The tower is 29 metres (95 ft) in height and has 128 steps to the top. The lighthouse features a distinctive design with both upper and lower lights, allowing for clear identification from other nearby lighthouses.

Light Characteristics

Under normal conditions, the light flashes three times every 30 seconds, visible for 17 nautical miles (31 kilometres). Its colour is white.

Current Status

The Pladda Lighthouse was automated in 1990 and is now remotely monitored from the Northern Lighthouse Board's headquarters in Edinburgh. It remains an active aid to navigation.

Heritage Status

No specific heritage status information is available for this lighthouse.

Notable Historical Events

There are no notable historical events recorded for Pladda Lighthouse.