Chaine Memorial Tower lighthouse, County Down

The Chaine Memorial Tower in Larne is a monument erected to James Chaine, a former Member of Parliament for Antrim, who developed the short sea route to Scotland as well as establishing the town as a transatlantic port. In 1885, the great man died and legend has it that he is buried, according to his wishes, standing up and looking out to sea.

That same year, the fundraising committee sought the assistance of the Commissioners of Irish Lights to help to build and maintain a tower, but were refused. Eventually it was agreed the Memorial Committee would build the replica round tower, without a light, at Sandy Point Bay, and the Larne Harbour authority would maintain it. The approved tower was completed in January 1888. It is a cylindrical stone tower lighthouse with a conical roof, situated on the west side of the entrance to Larne Lough and accessed via a short causeway.

A light was ultimately installed to aid navigation off Hunter Rock, a submerged rock approximately 5 miles off shore. Converted to electricity in 1935, responsibility for maintaining the light is now lies with the attending keeper at Ferris Point Lighthouse on the other side of the Harbour.

Location:     54.854538°North, 5.797976°West.

Elevation:    23 m

Character:   Iso WR 5s.

Range:          28 km