Chaine Memorial facts for kids
The Chaine Memorial Tower is a famous landmark in Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It's a tall, round stone tower with a pointed roof. You can find it at the entrance to Larne Lough. This special tower was built to remember James Chaine, who was an important person in the area. He was a Member of Parliament for Antrim and sadly passed away in 1885.
James Chaine worked hard to make Larne a busy port. He helped create a shorter sea route to Scotland and made Larne a place where ships could travel across the Atlantic Ocean to America. People built this memorial in 1888 using money donated by the public. It looks like an old Irish round tower. You can visit the tower by following Chaine Memorial Road, which connects from Curran Road via Bay Road.
What the Plaque Says
There's a special plaque on the Chaine Memorial Tower. It's a bit hard to read now, but it tells us why the tower was built. It says that people from all parts of the community helped pay for it. They all worked together to honor James Chaine.
The plaque explains that James Chaine was from Ballycraigy and Cairncastle in County Antrim. He represented the county in the British Parliament from 1874 until his death in 1885. He was only 43 years old when he passed away. The plaque highlights how hard he worked for the people of his county. He especially focused on improving Larne harbour. He helped connect Larne with Great Britain, the United States, and other parts of County Antrim.
The Tower as a Lighthouse
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| The tower at sunrise from Sandy Bay. | |
| Location | Larne County Antrim Northern Ireland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 54°51′16″N 5°47′53″W / 54.854538°N 5.797976°W |
| Year first constructed | 1888 |
| Year first lit | 1899 |
| Construction | Annalong granite tower |
| Tower shape | slim cylindrical tower with conical roof and light shown through a window |
| Markings / pattern | unpainted tower |
| Height | 23 metres (75 ft) |
| Focal height | 23 metres (75 ft) |
| Characteristic | Iso WR 5s. |
| Admiralty number | A6031 |
| NGA number | 6984 |
| ARLHS number | NTI-004 |
After James Chaine died in 1885, a special committee wanted to build a memorial tower. They asked the Commissioners of Irish Lights for help. At first, the Commissioners said no to building and looking after a tower with a light.
Eventually, they agreed on a plan. The Memorial Committee would build the round tower at Sandy Point Bay. It would be a replica of an old Irish tower, but it wouldn't have a light. The Larne Harbour authority would then be in charge of maintaining it. The tower was finished in January 1888.
Adding a Light to the Tower
In 1896, someone suggested that a light should be added to the tower. This was a great idea for ships! Because of this, the Commissioners of Irish Lights took over the tower. On July 1, 1899, a light powered by oil was installed. It was placed 22 meters up the tower. The tower itself is 28 meters tall.
The light was very important for helping ships. It guided them around Hunter Rock, which is a hidden rock about 5 miles offshore. In 1905, the light no longer needed a person to operate it. It was changed to run on coal gas from Larne's main gas supply. Later, in September 1935, it was updated to use electricity. In April 1948, the power supply was changed from DC to AC.
Today, the person who looks after Ferris Point Lighthouse, on the other side of the harbour, is also responsible for maintaining the light in the Chaine Memorial Tower.
