Page 8 - KBHA BULLETIN 6

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Peak was removed to allow the light to be seen up the west coast of the Peninsula. The

problems of mist and cloud were again considered but Maclear had lived in the area for six

months and did not think that there would be a problem. Captain Hoets, a False Bay pilot,
agreed with Maclear and stated that the nature and frequency of the fog would not affect

the lighthouse.

Her Majesty’s Government agreed to assist with the costs and Alexander Gordon, a
designer and supplier of cast-iron prefabricated lighthouse towers, was engaged to supply

two towers, one for Cape Point and one for Roman Rock.

On the 20 May 1857 Robert Cousins was appointed together with William King, as his

assistant, to supervise the erection of the two lighthouses. The equipment for both light-

houses left England on 30 May 1857 with Cousins and King following a few days later.

It seems that there was still indecision about the final site and work commenced only on 16
March 1859. It also appears that the designer Gordon had no knowledge of the access

problems to the remote Cape Point site. He had intended to use overland transport from
Simon’s Town to Cape Point but this proved impractical and the materials were transported

from Simon's Bay to Buffels Bay by boat and raft. From there it is assumed that the

material was transported further by pack animals.

Gordon had not allowed for a concrete foundation to the tower and was relying on the
weight of the cast iron segments for stability. Cousins recognised this as unsafe due to the

fierce south-east gales that blew so often and added six holding-down bolts, sunk into the
rocks and fixed to the bottom flange of the lower plates. John Tucker, the Colonial

Engineer, thought these were inadequate and recommended additional bolts be used.

Gordon was concerned that too many bolts would convey lightning strikes into the natural
bedrock and possibly cause damage. Professor Farady was consulted and he advised that

because the tower and lantern were metal the whole structure would behave as a lightning

conductor, and no damage to the rock foundations would occur.

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