Mari Narine
Admin · January 23 at 6:25 AM
Did You Know - The POS Lighthouse

"The lighthouse on Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, is one of Trinidad’s most obvious landmarks identifying the entrance to “downtown” Port of Spain.

The lighthouse was built in 1842 by the governor Colonel Sir Henry Mcleod to assist sea traffic for ships entering and leaving Port of Spain’s harbour. It was initially situated at the end of a 120’0” long jetty leading from the seafront, approximately where the south side of Independence Square is now.

This was prior to the second and third phases of the reclamation of Port of Spain’s waterfront in 1845 and at the end of the nineteenth century. Fort San Andres was connected to the jetty by a wooden bridge.

From time to time the lighthouse was upgraded, but the structure remained the same. The structure leans slightly toward the west, but this has not interfered with its function or stability.

The friendly rivalry between those from Port of Spain and those from south and east Trinidad is symbolized by those from Port of Spain being ignorant of “anything and anywhere east of the lighthouse”."

Source: http://nationaltrust.tt/location/port-of-spain-lighthouse/