Roman Rock Lighthouse - Simon's Town, Cape Town
The lighthouse was designed by Alexander Gordon of the British Lighthouse Authority and the cost was between £3,000 and £3,500 back in the 1860s. © Cape of Storms Roman Rock Lighthouse - Simon's Town, Cape Town
The Roman Rock Lighthouse in False Bay near Simon's Town was built between 1861 and 1865. Note that the word "somewhere" is missing from that sentence, and the reason being? One hundred and fifty years ago work began on building this Structure of Circular cast iron, one of the few in the world which is situated on a rock in the ocean, the majority being on promontories which jut out into the ocean rather like Cape Point lighthouse. And because of its location and vulnerability to the waters in which it was built, the erection of the structure took 4 years. Ferce winds and seas allowed only 96 working days during these four years. From Jan 7 to June 8 1861 for example it was only possible to work on 5 occasions.
The lighthouse owes its existence to a Joseph Nourse Commodore, Royal Navy, Simons Town who when writing to the Secretary General of the Admiralty in London, stressed the importance of the safety of His Majestys ships coming into the anchor at Simons Bay at night. But the proposed site for this lighthouse was not always to be Roman Rock, and from 1823 to 1853, three or four other possible sites were suggested. But in the end it was Roman Rock who won, despite the great costs of erecting it on this site.
The lighthouse was designed by Alexander Gordon of the British Lighthouse Authority and the cost was to be between £ 3,000 and £ 3,500. In 1857 the ship ROYAL SAXON arrived with the mechanism. Cast iron segments were bolted together and the lowest rung secured to the rock. The stone was quarried from Seaforth beach, from the rock behind and under the present restaurant, assembled there on site and numbered, before being ferried out to the required site. This first mechanism had a focal plane of 16,5 m above high water with a range of 19,3 km. It was not a great success as only 1 reflector was visible at a time. There were 8 reflectors in all and they made a revolution every 4 minutes. In 1914 the mechanism was replaced and thereafter the tower was no longer manned. It was powered by dissolved acetylene gas. The gas cylinders were renewed every 3 - 4 months. The automatic flash occurred every 6 seconds. Part of the 1914 mechanism is on display at the Simon's Town Museum.
In 1992 the South African Navy asked for it to be electrified as by now the bright lights of Simon's Town and Kalk Bay over-shadowed it. It now also has a back-up diesel engine and solar panels. The old dome was replaced by a glass fibre one when the dome was air-lifted to the lighthouse by a Sikorsky 861 helicopter.
This impressive structure which has defied the South-East gales and surging seas which have submerged it every summer for 142 years has kept watch over the waters of False Bay, and continues to guide home the Naval ships to their harbour.
An automatic weather station was erected on the Roman Rock Lighthouse during April 2002. This new facility provides for an ideal monitoring site of maritime air. The site is situated 1.5 km offshore and provides measurements (approximate height 17 m above sea level) of weather unaffected by land features such as local heating and buildings. The solar powered data logger reads near real time data before it is transmitted to IMT every 10 minutes via UHF radio link. The data is logged to a computer on IMT premises. The nesting of the birds on the Helipad at Roman Rock created an environmental issue which was resolved by arrangements with Portnet, Marine & Coastal Management and SANCOB. All above mentioned organizations were (and will continue to be) involved in the safe relocation of nesting birds on the helipad.
Due to its location, Roman Rock lighthouse is best viewed from the shore, unless you are one of the lucky few who have been commissioned to work on the site
Verblyf Naby Roman Rock Lighthouse - Simon's Town, Cape Town
Boulders Beach Hotel, Cafe and Curios
Self Catering Apartment, Flatlet Accommodation in Boulders
1.9km from Roman Rock Lighthouse - Simon's Town, Cape TownBoulders Beach Hotel is Boulders, Simon's Town is net 70 meter van die Wêrelderfenisgebied van Boulders Beach geleë wat bekend is vir sy broeiende Afrika-pikkewynkolonie. Dit is een van die 'moet sien'-aanbevelings vir toeriste wat Kaapstad... …sien meer vir besprekings / navrae en inligting.
Mariner Guesthouse
Bed & Breakfast Accommodation in Simon's Town
2.5km from Roman Rock Lighthouse - Simon's Town, Cape TownDie bekroonde Mariner Guesthouse is op maat gebou teen die berghelling in die historiese Simonstad en bied asemrowende see-uitsigte oor Valsbaai. Ons is stapafstand van restaurante en strande af, en is trots daarop om styl... …sien meer vir besprekings / navrae en inligting.
Moonglow Guest House
Bed & Breakfast Accommodation in Simon's Town
3.4km from Roman Rock Lighthouse - Simon's Town, Cape TownMoonglow Guest House bied B&B-verblyf in Glencairn, teen die hange van die Simonstad-berge wat uitkyk oor Valsbaai. Daar is 6 goed ingerigte ensuite-slaapkamers, almal met see-uitsigte. 4 kamers het koninginbeddens en al die kamers het... …sien meer vir besprekings / navrae en inligting.
Aqua Terra Boutique Guesthouse
Bed & Breakfast Accommodation in Simon's Town
3.5km from Roman Rock Lighthouse - Simon's Town, Cape TownAqua Terra Boutique Guesthouse is in die stil woonbuurt Murdockvallei in Simonstad geleë en bied verblyf op 'n B&B-basis. …sien meer vir besprekings / navrae en inligting.
Bay Splendour
Self Catering House, Cottage, Chalet Accommodation in Simon's Town
3.7km from Roman Rock Lighthouse - Simon's Town, Cape TownBay Splendour, geleë in 'n doodloopstraat, 10 minute se stap na die outydse sjarme van Simonstad, die hoofkwartier van die Suid-Afrikaanse Vloot. 'n Kusjuweel van vrede en rustigheid. Bay Splendour het 'n ruim, oopplan woonkamer en kombuis... …sien meer vir besprekings / navrae en inligting.
The Crags
Self Catering Apartment, Flatlet Accommodation in Fish Hoek
4.9km from Roman Rock Lighthouse - Simon's Town, Cape TownKom bly in een van die oorspronklike plaasgeboue in Vishoek, Kaapstad binne 'n hanetreetjie van die strand af. Hierdie selfsorgwoonstel (slaapplek vir 6) bied ruim, goed ingerigte, luukse akkommodasie met manjifieke uitsigte oor Valsbaai. …sien meer vir besprekings / navrae en inligting.
A Tuscan Villa Guest House
Bed & Breakfast Accommodation in Fish Hoek
5.3km from Roman Rock Lighthouse - Simon's Town, Cape TownBed en ontbyt akkommodasie in Vishoek, Kaapstad. Die villa spog met 4 ruim en suite-kamers wat benoem is volgens die rigting wat hulle in die gesig staar. Terwyl elke kamer sy eie spesiale eienskappe het, het alle kamers Posturepedic-beddens, 100% perkall …sien meer vir besprekings / navrae en inligting.
Upstairs @ No. 42
Self Catering Apartment, Flatlet Accommodation in Fish Hoek
5.4km from Roman Rock Lighthouse - Simon's Town, Cape TownNet 'n paar treë vanaf die afdak (terrein parkering) neem u na die deur van hierdie "Tuis van huis", met slaaplek vir 6. Die woonstel het 'n oopplan woon/eet/kombuis-gebied, 'n badkamer met bad en stort, 'n slaapkamer met 2 kajuitbeddens (volgrootte) …sien meer vir besprekings / navrae en inligting.
Chartfield Guesthouse
Bed & Breakfast Accommodation in Cape Town
5.7km from Roman Rock Lighthouse - Simon's Town, Cape TownChartfield Gastehuis ontlok die gees van 'n tyd toe alles met 'n bietjie meer styl en met meer aandag aan besonderhere gedoen is …sien meer vir besprekings / navrae en inligting.
Dunvegan Lodge
Self Catering Apartment, Flatlet Accommodation in Cape Town
6.2km from Roman Rock Lighthouse - Simon's Town, Cape TownDunvegan Lodge is hoog teen die fynbosbedekte hange van Clovellyberg, Vishoek geleë en bied luukse selfsorgverblyf in ruim sonnige kamers, elk met moderne en suite-badkamers, TV met satelliet, telefoon, haardroër, kluis en... …sien meer vir besprekings / navrae en inligting.
- Boulders (1.87km)
- Bellvue (1.89km)
- Winford (2.25km)
- Seaforth (2.27km)
- Froggy Farm (2.64km)
- Harbour Heights (2.70km)
- Simon's Stad (2.74km)
- Murdock Valley (2.82km)
- Simons Kloof (3.15km)
- Dido Valley (3.45km)
- Mount Pleasant (3.68km)
- Glen Marine (3.71km)
- Bay View Village (3.72km)
- Glen Ridge (3.72km)
- Glencairn (3.76km)
- Boulders Beach Penguin Colony - Simon's Town (1.73km)
- Seaforth Beach - Simon's Town, Cape Town (1.86km)
- Windmill Beach - Simon's Town, Cape Town (2.02km)
- Simon's Town Country Club - Cape Town (2.12km)
- SAS Assegaai Museum - Simon's Town, Cape Town (2.23km)
- Fishermans Beach - Simon's Town, Cape Town (2.27km)
- Simon's Town Harbour - Cape Town (2.35km)
- South African Navy Festival - Simon's Town, Cape Town (2.67km)
- Heritage Museum - Simon's Town, Cape Town (2.75km)
- False Bay Yacht Harbour - Simon's Town, Cape Town (2.81km)
- Just Nuisance Memorial - Simon's Town, Cape Town (2.93km)
- Simon's Town Waterfront - Cape Town (2.95km)
- Heather Auer Art and Sculpture Gallery - Simon's Town (2.99km)
- South African Naval Museum - Simon's Town, Cape Town (3.39km)
- Simon's Town Museum - Cape Town (3.40km)
- Long Beach - Simon's Town, Cape Town (3.47km)
- Scratch Patch - Simon's Town, Cape Town (3.51km)
- Glencairn Beach - Cape Town, Cape Peninsula (3.52km)
- Fish Hoek Beach Spring Splash - Cape Town (4.97km)
- Fish Hoek Beach - Cape Town (5.13km)
- Elsie's Peak Hiking Trails - Glencairn, Fish Hoek (5.16km)
- Millers Point Tidal Pool - Cape Peninsula, Cape Town (5.25km)
- Kalk Bay Harbour - Kalk Bay, Cape Town (5.41km)
- Kalk Bay Theatre - Kalk Bay, Cape Town (5.58km)
- Dalebrook Tidal Pool - Kalk Bay, Cape Town (5.77km)
- St James Beach and Tidal Pool - Cape Town (6.25km)
- Clovelly Golf Club - Fish Hoek, Cape Town (6.81km)
- Cape Point Ostrich Farm - Cape Peninsula (7.26km)
- Muizenberg Beach - False Bay, Cape Town (7.35km)
- Partridge Point - Cape Peninsula, Cape Town (7.54km)
