Page 18 - KBHA BULLETIN 6

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sensibly felt by the inhabitants of Simon’s Town that they would be willing to

build the lighthouse if the Colonial Government would maintain it.”

Although he stated that Noah’s Ark would be more suitable he recommended a site

projecting from the mainland south of Noah’s Ark because he felt that it would be less
expensive to develop.

This proposal was referred to the Secretary of State in London by His Excellency, Major-

General Sir George Napier, except that he preferred the Noah’s Ark location, and in July

1839 Napier was instructed by the Colonial Office to prepare and submit plans and
estimates for this scheme.

By September 1839 several ships had stranded or got themselves into trouble in False Bay
because of the lack of a lighthouse, and Admiral Elliott once again brought the matter to

the Administration’s attention. In a letter to the Secretary of the Admiralty in May 1841
Admiral Elliott again stated that either Noah’s Ark or Roman Rock would be the best

position for the lighthouse, but because of financial constraints “Miller's Point is the best
situation for the light.”

The Surveyor-General and Civil Engineer of the Cape Government, Colonel C. C. Michell,
prepared two estimates for Admiral Elliott to consider, both with a fixed light.

In May 1843 Colonel Michell, Rear-Admiral Percy, Captain Eden and Mr. Brown met in

Simon’s Town to visit and discuss the suitability of the various sites. It was decided that
financial constraints aside, Roman Rock was the “fittest place for a harbour light.”

Colonel Michell once again prepared a design and estimate for Roman Rock proposing an
interlocking granite stone block construction as used so successfully in the Eddystone

Lighthouse in England. This proposal was submitted by Governor Napier to Lord Stanley,

Secretary of State, who deferred the matter, because of a lack of available funds, until it
could be ascertained if the British Government would undertake the work.

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