East End Light
Encyclopedia
The East End Light is a lighthouse
located at the east end of Grand Cayman
island in the Cayman Islands
. The lighthouse is the centerpiece of East End Lighthouse Park, managed by the National Trust for the Cayman Islands
; the first navigational aid on the site was the first lighthouse in the Cayman Islands.
s which lie under the ocean's surface just off its coast, and was in the past known as the "Graveyard of the Caribbean". The area was the site of the island's most famous shipwreck
, the Wreck of the Ten Sail
, in 1794; miraculously, only eight lives were lost in the disaster when ten merchant vessels ran aground in rough seas. The area was sparsely inhabited at the time, but local residents banded together with some inhabitants of Bodden Town
to assist the crews of the wrecked ships. By the end of the nineteenth century, Eastern Channel in Gun Bay was designated a port of entry
for the East End area. Much business was conducted there; the channel was trafficked by ships leaving and arriving on fishing
and turtling
trips, and by freight- and mail-carrying vessels as well.
The first lighthouse for the East End was erected about a half-mile away from the site of the present tower, being built on Gun Bluff in the early twentieth century. It was one of two lighthouse built on the island; the other was constructed in George Town
at about the same time. The structure consisted of a steel ship's mast
, 60 feet tall, standing on the bluff. William James Watler served as the first keeper
, ensuring that a kerosene
lantern was hoisted to the top of the mast at 6:00 every evening and bringing it down at 6:00 every morning. A fine "not exceeding forty shilling
s" would be levied on him should he be derelict in his duties. This first lighthouse was visible from ten miles out at sea.
It was recognized by 1918 that a more substantial lighthouse was needed for the point, and a French
engineer
named Terrier was appointed to plan the project. Land at Gorling Bluff was leased, and a new structure was built, along with a shed for holding kerosene. The new site was perfect for a lighthouse, commanding as it did a good view of nearby reefs; it was also the highest point in the district. The new structure was a cylindrical
steel mast suppording a wooden frame; this held a three-wick
kerosene lamp. Two keepers, Austin B. Conolly and Police Officer Captain Elliott Conolly, were appointed to oversee maintenance and lighting of the light. Remnants of this lighthouse may still be seen standing beside the current tower, while its kerosene lamp is now in the Cayman Islands National Museum
.
With the completion, in 1935, of the coastal road along Grand Cayman's southern coast, the community around East End ceased to be as isolated as it had traditionally been, and it was no longer used as a port of entry. As a consequence, the old lighthouse was deemed less necessary, as it was easier to access the village by land. The tower remained in use until 1937, when the British government
provided five "navigational lights" of modern design to be scattered among the three Cayman Islands. It was required that these were to be erected on Crown Property, so as a consequence Gorling Bluff was acquired by the Crown that same year; the light was placed on the bluff by one Mr. Morell, who came from England to do the job.
The first lights in the new structure were automatic, controlled by the sun, and could be left for up to six months; as a consequence, the employment of light keepers was no longer deemed necessary. As World War II
dawned, however, it was decided that given its height and location the site would be worth turning into a lookout post, and guardians of the light were assigned for this purpose. They also served as lookouts until hostilities erupted, at which point the light came under the jurisdiction of local police. Albert Connor remained in charge until the formation, in June 1942, of the islands' Home Guard
. The Guard maintained a 24-hour coastal watch along Grand Cayman's coasts, and a four-man team, commanded by a corporal
, was stationed at East End. Although they were trained, they were rarely armed, instead using powerful binoculars to scan the area. The men were given a small barracks
, containing a bunkroom, kitchen, and outside latrine
as quarters, and had a telephone line connecting them directly with the central office in George Town, to which they reported every half-hour.
The East End Light remains an active aid to navigation, being administered for that purpose by the Cayman Islands' Port Authority; today it is powered by solar energy
. The Authority has allowed the National Trust for the Cayman Islands to do some work around the structure to make the site more presentable. A stairway of thirty-seven steps has been installed leading to the summit of the bluff, and large amounts of infill
and soil
have been taken up to create pathways for visitors. Flower beds show examples of various plants which were used as medicine
s by the Islands' earliest settlers, and a thousand-gallon water tank has been installed to provide irrigation
. , work on the park was ongoing.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
located at the east end of Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands and the location of the nation's capital, George Town. In relation to the other two Cayman Islands, it is approximately 75 miles southwest of Little Cayman and 90 miles southwest of Cayman Brac.-Geography:Grand Cayman encompasses 76% of...
island in the Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica...
. The lighthouse is the centerpiece of East End Lighthouse Park, managed by the National Trust for the Cayman Islands
National Trust for the Cayman Islands
The National Trust for the Cayman Islands is the National Trust serving the Cayman Islands. Its purposes are to preserve sites of artistic and architectural interest in the islands and to provide protection for local natural resources and wildlife...
; the first navigational aid on the site was the first lighthouse in the Cayman Islands.
History
The east end of Grand Cayman has long been well known for the treacherous reefReef
In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
s which lie under the ocean's surface just off its coast, and was in the past known as the "Graveyard of the Caribbean". The area was the site of the island's most famous shipwreck
Shipwreck
A shipwreck is what remains of a ship that has wrecked, either sunk or beached. Whatever the cause, a sunken ship or a wrecked ship is a physical example of the event: this explains why the two concepts are often overlapping in English....
, the Wreck of the Ten Sail
Wreck of the Ten Sail
Wreck of the Ten Sail is a historic shipwreck event that occurred off the East End of Grand Cayman Island on February 8, 1794. Ten ships that were part of a convoy on its way from Jamaica to the United States and Britain wrecked on the surrounding reef...
, in 1794; miraculously, only eight lives were lost in the disaster when ten merchant vessels ran aground in rough seas. The area was sparsely inhabited at the time, but local residents banded together with some inhabitants of Bodden Town
Bodden Town
Bodden Town, Grand Cayman, is the former capital and largest district in the Cayman Islands. It is situated on a natural harbor and a coral reef. The first settlement was named after a government leader, William Bodden. Once ravaged by pirates, this village is known for its remains of a...
to assist the crews of the wrecked ships. By the end of the nineteenth century, Eastern Channel in Gun Bay was designated a port of entry
Port of entry
In general, a port of entry is a place where one may lawfully enter a country. It typically has a staff of people who check passports and visas and inspect luggage to assure that contraband is not imported. International airports are usually ports of entry, as are road and rail crossings on a...
for the East End area. Much business was conducted there; the channel was trafficked by ships leaving and arriving on fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and turtling
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
trips, and by freight- and mail-carrying vessels as well.
The first lighthouse for the East End was erected about a half-mile away from the site of the present tower, being built on Gun Bluff in the early twentieth century. It was one of two lighthouse built on the island; the other was constructed in George Town
George Town, Cayman Islands
George Town, Grand Cayman, is the capital of the Cayman Islands, in the British West Indies. The city has a population of 35,600 and is the largest city on Grand Cayman....
at about the same time. The structure consisted of a steel ship's mast
Mast (sailing)
The mast of a sailing vessel is a tall, vertical, or near vertical, spar, or arrangement of spars, which supports the sails. Large ships have several masts, with the size and configuration depending on the style of ship...
, 60 feet tall, standing on the bluff. William James Watler served as the first keeper
Lighthouse keeper
A lighthouse keeper is the person responsible for tending and caring for a lighthouse, particularly the light and lens in the days when oil lamps and clockwork mechanisms were used. Keepers were needed to trim the wicks, replenish fuel, wind clockworks and perform maintenance tasks such as cleaning...
, ensuring that a kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
lantern was hoisted to the top of the mast at 6:00 every evening and bringing it down at 6:00 every morning. A fine "not exceeding forty shilling
Shilling
The shilling is a unit of currency used in some current and former British Commonwealth countries. The word shilling comes from scilling, an accounting term that dates back to Anglo-Saxon times where it was deemed to be the value of a cow in Kent or a sheep elsewhere. The word is thought to derive...
s" would be levied on him should he be derelict in his duties. This first lighthouse was visible from ten miles out at sea.
It was recognized by 1918 that a more substantial lighthouse was needed for the point, and a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
engineer
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
named Terrier was appointed to plan the project. Land at Gorling Bluff was leased, and a new structure was built, along with a shed for holding kerosene. The new site was perfect for a lighthouse, commanding as it did a good view of nearby reefs; it was also the highest point in the district. The new structure was a cylindrical
Cylinder (geometry)
A cylinder is one of the most basic curvilinear geometric shapes, the surface formed by the points at a fixed distance from a given line segment, the axis of the cylinder. The solid enclosed by this surface and by two planes perpendicular to the axis is also called a cylinder...
steel mast suppording a wooden frame; this held a three-wick
Candle wick
A candle wick is a string, cord, or wooden object that holds the flame of a candle. A candle wick works by capillary action, drawing the fuel to the flame. When the liquid fuel, typically melted candle wax, reaches the flame it then vaporizes and combusts. The candle wick influences how the...
kerosene lamp. Two keepers, Austin B. Conolly and Police Officer Captain Elliott Conolly, were appointed to oversee maintenance and lighting of the light. Remnants of this lighthouse may still be seen standing beside the current tower, while its kerosene lamp is now in the Cayman Islands National Museum
Cayman Islands National Museum
The Cayman Islands National Museum is a museum in the Cayman Islands. It is housed in the former Old Courts Building on Harbor Drive in George Town, Grand Cayman...
.
With the completion, in 1935, of the coastal road along Grand Cayman's southern coast, the community around East End ceased to be as isolated as it had traditionally been, and it was no longer used as a port of entry. As a consequence, the old lighthouse was deemed less necessary, as it was easier to access the village by land. The tower remained in use until 1937, when the British government
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
provided five "navigational lights" of modern design to be scattered among the three Cayman Islands. It was required that these were to be erected on Crown Property, so as a consequence Gorling Bluff was acquired by the Crown that same year; the light was placed on the bluff by one Mr. Morell, who came from England to do the job.
The first lights in the new structure were automatic, controlled by the sun, and could be left for up to six months; as a consequence, the employment of light keepers was no longer deemed necessary. As World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
dawned, however, it was decided that given its height and location the site would be worth turning into a lookout post, and guardians of the light were assigned for this purpose. They also served as lookouts until hostilities erupted, at which point the light came under the jurisdiction of local police. Albert Connor remained in charge until the formation, in June 1942, of the islands' Home Guard
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
. The Guard maintained a 24-hour coastal watch along Grand Cayman's coasts, and a four-man team, commanded by a corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
, was stationed at East End. Although they were trained, they were rarely armed, instead using powerful binoculars to scan the area. The men were given a small barracks
Barracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
, containing a bunkroom, kitchen, and outside latrine
Latrine
A latrine is a communal facility containing one or more commonly many toilets which may be simple pit toilets or in the case of the United States Armed Forces any toilet including modern flush toilets...
as quarters, and had a telephone line connecting them directly with the central office in George Town, to which they reported every half-hour.
The East End Light remains an active aid to navigation, being administered for that purpose by the Cayman Islands' Port Authority; today it is powered by solar energy
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
. The Authority has allowed the National Trust for the Cayman Islands to do some work around the structure to make the site more presentable. A stairway of thirty-seven steps has been installed leading to the summit of the bluff, and large amounts of infill
Infill
Infill in its broadest meaning is material that fills in an otherwise unoccupied space. The term is commonly used in association with construction techniques such as wattle and daub, and civil engineering activities such as land reclamation.-Construction:...
and soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
have been taken up to create pathways for visitors. Flower beds show examples of various plants which were used as medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
s by the Islands' earliest settlers, and a thousand-gallon water tank has been installed to provide irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
. , work on the park was ongoing.