3-021-663 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Roman Rocks Lighthouse, Simon's Bay, Cape of Good Hope, [South Africa], 1869. 'Simon's Bay, where the Admiralty dockyard and depot are situated, is not far from Capetown. At the entrance to Simon's Bay lies a dangerous reef of granite boulders called the "Roman Rocks," over which the surf, even in calm weather, is almost always beating. About nine years ago an iron lighthouse was commenced...on one of these rocks. Its erection took five years...Unfortunately, the building was no sooner completed than it showed signs of failure, and was condemned as unsafe. In 1863 a plan was proposed...by Mr. J. F. Bourne, colonial railway engineer, to secure the lighthouse from further injury by encasing the lower part of the tower in a massive wall of granite...this work has been executed under that gentleman's superintendence by Mr. W. Fairbairn King, as resident engineer. This work now completed...occupied three years in execution. During the year 1864 it was possible to work on the rock only 357 hours and during the year 1865 there were but 127 hours when the men could work upon it. By Mr. King's perseverance and energy, however, it was at length completed to the satisfaction of the Colonial Government'. From "Illustrated London News", 1869.