Pencarrow Lighthouse Roof Restoration Completed
New Zealand Historic Places Trust Information Release
29 May 2008
In a testament to its remarkable durability Pencarrow Lighthouse has
undergone its first roof replacement since its erection exactly 150 years
ago.
The significant and unusual restoration project involving the replacement
of the iconic domed cap was successfully completed recently by the New
Zealand Historic Places Trust. The 150 year old weather vane was also
reconstructed.
"It was an extremely tricky piece of work compared to our usual
restoration projects," according to Elizabeth Cox, Heritage Destination
Manager at NZHPT. "Getting the scaffolding wrapped around the octagonal
shape of the lighthouse head was a mission in itself. The scaffolding
couldn't be erected from the ground up in the usual way, to prevent people
clambering up the side. Only the upper part was erected, a challenging
undertaking."
A small internal scaffolding also needed to be erected in the space where
the light used to be in order to replace the roof structure.
The remoteness of the site was also a challenge. The scaffolding and
the new roof structure had to be helicoptered in, as alternatives were
too expensive and time-consuming.
The project was lucky enough to find a local contractor to do the specialised
work required.
Hartmut Reichelt of ARFI, a company specialising in the supply and installation
of non-ferrous structures, admits the Pencarrow Lighthouse roof replacement
project was one of the most challenging he has met in his thirty years
of working internationally on buildings under historic protection.
Despite the challenges all the people involved took great pride in their
work and enjoyed being involved, he says.
Two interesting discoveries were made by during the project.
According to Mr Reichelt the original cast steel lighthouse structure
was found to be an extraordinary piece of work. "The workmanship
was excellent. Obviously those workers of 150 years ago took great pride
in their work. The original lighthouse was imported into New Zealand in
the form of a numbered, metallic kitset and assembled here. They couldn't
afford to find mistakes and send back to England for a wrong or missing
piece. Every piece was perfect."
A less fortunate discovery was that the structure underpinning the roof
was so badly damaged by moisture that it was literally crumbling away.
This meant an extension to the scope of the project while that too was
replaced.
Pencarrow was the first permanent lighthouse erected in New Zealand,
at the demand of Wellington residents concerned about numerous shipwrecks
and the destruction of all temporary lighthouse structures due to adverse
weather conditions.
The first principal keeper of the new Pencarrow Lighthouse was Mary Bennett,
widow of George Bennett who had drowned in 1855. She was New Zealand's
first and only woman lighthouse keeper.
It was first lit on 1 January 1859. It is now a very popular for walkers
and bikers. Large numbers visit the lighthouse every year.
The next restoration project on the agenda for NZHPT involving Pencarrow
Lighthouse is to deal with moisture in the lighthouse caused by soil erosion
surrounding the lighthouse.
NZHPT plans to commemorate the first lighting on 1 January 2009. It hopes
to erect permanent information panels detailing the history of the lighthouse
in time for next year's celebrations.
For more information and images
Elizabeth Cox
Heritage Destinations Manager Central Region
Tel: 04 470 8040 or 027 257 2302)
Email: ecox@historic.org.nz
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