Fort William Lighthouse
Cape Coast Castle Light
Part of British Gold Coast
Fort William (publ. 1861)
Fort William LighthouseCape Coast Castle Light is located in Ghana
Fort William LighthouseCape Coast Castle Light
Fort William Lighthouse
Cape Coast Castle Light
Coordinates5°06′29″N 1°14′39″W / 5.10797°N 1.24428°W / 5.10797; -1.24428
Site history
Built1820
Garrison information
OccupantsUnited Kingdom (1820–1957)
Ghana (1957–present)

Fort William Lighthouse is located on the Dawson's Hill in the old centre of Cape Coast, in Ghana's Central Region. The lighthouse is often called Cape Coast Castle Light, although it is not part of the Cape Coast Castle complex. It is about 600 metres (1⁄3 mile) away from the Castle.[1][2] Along with the Cape Coast Castle and other castles and forts in Ghana, the lighthouse was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979 because of its historical importance.[3]

The building was first constructed by the British under Governor Hope-Smith in 1820, and it was named Smith's Tower. In the 1830s, it was reconstructed with more durable materials and renamed Fort William. Since then, it has served as a lighthouse.[4]

Currently, the building houses Ghana Museums & Monuments Board staff (GMMB). Fort William is well maintained and open to visitors.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Foghorn Publishing ... Lighthouse Explorer Database ... Cape Coast Castle Light > Lighthouse Digest". Lighthouse Digest. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  2. ↑ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Ghana". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  3. ↑ "Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions". UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  4. ↑ van Dantzig, Albert (1980). Forts and Castles of Ghana. Sedco Publishing Limited. p. 74. ISBN 9964-720-10-6.
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