Castle Hill Lighthouse

Year Built

1890

Cost

$10,000

Type

Conical

Height

33 feet

Location

Off Ocean Avenue on Castle Hill at West end of Newport Neck

Automated Year

1957

First Lit

1890

Lens Type

Fifth order Fresnel lens (original), 12 inches (300 mm) (current)

Fog Signal

Horn, 1 every 10s

Year Deactivated

Active

Color

White top, Granite bottom, black lantern

Last Keeper - Date

Manuel Soares Macedo (at least 1945)

Description

Although the lighthouse itself is not open to the public, the grounds are easily accessible by footpaths in the area. The Castle Hill Inn owns the land around the lighthouse.

Brief History

•  In the late 1880s, the Lighthouse Board resumed its attempts to build a signal at Castle Hill, and this time they were able to obtain separate sites for the lighthouse and keeper’s dwelling.
•  The new light station commenced operation on May 1, 1890, but the fog bell was discontinued on November 39, 1891.
•  The first keeper at Castle Hill was a Connecticut native named Frank W. Parmele, who was transferred from Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse.
•  Castle Hill Lighthouse survived the 1938 Hurricane without serious damage.
•  In 2021 the Castle Hill Inn signed a five year agreement to maintain the Castle Hill Lighthouse.