Marine navigation Beacon, (Gowland Beacon), Granagh (off coast), Portaferry, Co Down

A navigation beacon, possibly of mid to late 19th-century construction and still in use, stands on a small rocky outcrop or island at the entrance to Strangford Lough, near Portaferry. This is one of a pair of such beacons, the other located on the opposite coast of the Lough. The structure resembles a small, round tower approximately 8 metres high, tapering from a base of around 2 metres in width to a light at the top, which is approximately 0.5 metres in width. The beacon may have been built between 1840 and 1859 and was likely originally oil-fired. According to the Commission of Irish Lights, it should be classified as a ‘lighthouse’ due to the presence of a light at the top. The structure is of industrial archaeological interest and holds local historical and social, cultural, or economic importance. It is noted for its style, proportions, and setting. Primary sources include Ordnance Survey maps from 1860, and information was received from the Commission of Irish Lights.