Lighthouses of Montserrat

Montserrat is a small island in the Leeward Islands group of the Lesser Antilles, 40 km (25 mi) southwest of Antigua and 56 km (35 mi) northwest of Guadeloupe. Located in the western arc of the Leewards between St. Kitts-Nevis and Guadeloupe, the island is 16 km (9.9 mi) long and 11 km (6.8 mi) wide. In 1995 the long-dormant Soufrière Hills volcano suddenly began erupting. Its continued eruptions have buried the southern half of the island in lava and volcanic debris, destroying the island's principal town of Plymouth, its port and its airport. The present population, less than 5000, is confined to the northern half of the island, where a new airport has regular air service from Antigua.

A British colony since the 17th century, Montserrat continues as a British overseas territory.

Montserrat never had any traditional lighthouses and lights associated with its former port at Plymouth were destroyed. At present the island has no fixed lighted aids to navigation; the two lights still listed by the Admiralty are destroyed.

Admiralty numbers are from volume J of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 110.

General Sources
Montserrat Map: A useful general map of the island.
Online List of Lights - Montserrat: Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas

Plymouth Jetty Light, Montserrat, January 2022
photo copyright Capt. Peter Mosselberger; used by permission

Former Lightbeacon
* Plymouth Jetty: Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 8 m (26 ft); continuous red light. The light is displayed (it's not clear how) on aa 1-story office building. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo (seen above), Mikhail Tekuchev has a distant drone view, and Google has a satellite view. Plymouth, the former capital of Montserrat, was destroyed by the lava flows. but the jetty is back in service with a road leading to the populated northern half of the island. Located at the base of the jetty. Site open. Admiralty J5686; NGA 14765.
#Castle Peak: Date unknown. Destroyed but still listed with focal plane 969 m (3179 ft). This was a 55 m (180 ft) skeletal mast carrying a red aircraft warning light that also served as a landfall light for the island. Trabas has Capt. Peter Mosselberger's very distant view from the sea. The light was atop the Soufrière Hills volcanic complex, which has been altered extensively by the eruptions; Google's satellite view of the listed location shows only devastation. Site and tower closed. Admiralty J5687.5; NGA 14766.5.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: Northeast: Antigua | Southeast: Guadeloupe | Northwest: St. Kitts and Nevis

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