Lighthouse weather vane damaged

Saturday night’s high winds saw part of the scaffolding surrounding Gibbs Hill Lighthouse come down. The 168-year-old weather vane, that used to sit on top of the lighthouse, was snapped off its pedestal and damaged as a result of material to fix the lighthouse came apart.

Work started this month to restore the iconic tourist attraction to its former beauty. Back in 2012, Government said the restoration would cost $500,000 to help get rid of the ugly rust that was visible throughout the 177 foot structure.

A worker at The Dining Room at Gibbs Hill Lighthouse told the Bermuda Sun when they showed up for work this morning the scaffolding piece, which was at the third level from the top, was already town.

It was unsure whether it was the scaffolding piece or the vinyl covering that was sheathed around the Lighthouse that broke the weathervane.

Dozens of bungee cords lay strewn across the lawn after they snapped allowing the covering to snap back and forth.

The weather vane was installed at the top of Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse in 1846. It was later replaced by a radar scanner in 1988, which is part of an early warning system to prevent ships running aground on Bermuda’s reefs.

Gibbs Hill Lighthouse is expected to re-open in April.