Curiosities of Great Britain: England and Wales Delineated Vol.1-11: Historical, Entertaining & Commercial; Alphabetically Arranged. 11 Volume set. — John Shaqi
Curiosities of Great Britain: England and Wales Delineated Vol.1-11: Historical, Entertaining & Commercial; Alphabetically Arranged. 11 Volume set.Dugdale, Thomas
History
Curiosities of Great Britain: England and Wales Delineated Vol.1-11: Historical, Entertaining & Commercial; Alphabetically Arranged. 11 Volume set.
Dugdale, Thomas
Great Britain -- Gazetteers
[C] St. AGNES is situated on the Bristol Channel. The town and parish,
including a considerable mining district, is thickly strewed with the
cottages of the miners. It is more frequently called Lighthouse Island,
from a very high and strong light-house erected here, to warn the
mariner from the rocks, which are more numerous about this than any
other of the Scilly Islands. This building is upwards of sixty feet
high, and stands on the most elevated ground. The light is produced by
twenty-one parabolic reflectors of copper, plated with silver, and
having each an argand lamp in its focus. The reflectors are disposed of
in three clusters, of seven in each cluster, and the frame in which they
are fixed stands perpendicularly to the horizon, on a shaft united to a
machine below, which makes the whole revolve every two minutes. By this
motion the light progressively sweeps the whole horizon; and by its
gradual intermission and increase, it is readily distinguished from any
other. Its brilliancy is also extraordinary; and by these combined
efforts its benefits are greatly increased, as the seaman is at once
rendered completely sensible of his situation. This light was designed
by the ingenious Mr. Adam Walker, (lecturer on natural and experimental
philosophy,) under whose inspection it was constructed. The light-house
itself is of stone, and was erected, as appears from an inscription over
the door, by Captain Hugh Till, and Captain Simon Bayley, in the year
1680. The charges attending the light are defrayed by the Trinity House.
At St. Agnes is a pilchard fishery. St. Agnes' Beacon, six hundred and
sixty-four feet above the level of the sea, is formed out of an ancient
cairn, or tumulus of stones; near which, a summer-house has been built,
from whence is a fine view of St. Ives, and an extensive sea prospect.
Near the same spot is St. Agnes' Well, of which many miraculous stories
are in circulation, from its presumed holy and sanative properties.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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