2011

SC3875 : Sunrise Over Douglas Bay (6)

taken 13 years ago, near to Douglas, Isle of Man

Sunrise Over Douglas Bay (6)
Sunrise Over Douglas Bay (6)
5.47 am, a quarter of an hour after SC3875 : Sunrise Over Douglas Bay (1); the sun is rising over the Tower of Refuge on St Mary's Isle (Conister Rock) in Douglas Bay. Onchan Head is to the left (north).
Sunrise over Douglas Bay

A series of photographs taken over a period of approximately 15 minutes as the sun rose over Douglas Bay.

The Tower of Refuge

The Tower of Refuge, an instantly recognisable feature of Douglas Bay, was erected chiefly through zeal of Sir William Hillary; the founder of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

The tower is built on top of Conister Rocks, a partially submerged reef within Douglas Bay, also known as St Mary's Isle. Prior to the building of the refuge (and the new pier) these rocks had claimed many lives.

After several shipwrecks upon the semi-submerged rock, Hillary realised that the coast was too far to swim to. A lighthouse or some kind of sanctuary should be built for survivors to await rescue. Sir William, who personally contributed a high proportion of the costs, secured a substantial number of public contributions for funding the building.

After its construction the refuge, which was built to look like a castle, was stocked with provisions for any shipwrecked persons. The tower originally housed a bell for summoning of help.

The Tower of Refuge derives its name from a poem by William Wordsworth, "Dignum laude virum Musa vetat mori." which includes the lines “A Tower of refuge built for the else forlorn. Spare it, ye waves, and lift the mariner, struggling for life, into its saving arms! Spare, too, the human helpers! Do they stir 'Mid your fierce shock like men afraid to die? No; their dread service nerves the heart it warms, And they are led by noble Hillary.” (LinkExternal link - On Entering Douglas Bay)

The first stone for the tower was laid by Lady Hillary on Easter Monday, April 23rd, 1832, since when not a single accident has occurred!

In 2008 the tower underwent extensive maintenance work. The exterior part of the tower was repointed and lighting installed.


LinkExternal link - Isle of Man guide
LinkExternal link - Poetry Atlas “on Entering Douglas Bay”


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright David Dixon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
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SC3875, 789 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
David Dixon   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Thursday, 28 April, 2011   (more nearby)
Submitted
Tuesday, 3 May, 2011
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SC 388 755 [100m precision]
WGS84: 54:9.0200N 4:28.1220W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SC 383 756
View Direction
EAST (about 90 degrees)
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Image classification(about): Supplemental image
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