Know more about oldest concrete lighthouse in the world existing in Port Said

CAIRO - 13 September 2022: There are many monuments are buildings in Port Said that are listed as antiquities, despite the city’s modernity, as it has exsited for only 160 years old.

 

One of these monuments is the old Port Said lighthouse, which is the oldest concrete lighthouse in the world built by the French to guide ships to the city.

 

 

The origin of the Port Said lighthouse

 

The lighthouse was established during the reign of Khedive Ismail in June 1869, and it started operating in February 1870, where practical steps were taken to establish Port Said as a sea port after the meeting of “De Lesseps” on April 25, 1859 AD, and several decisions were taken, including the establishment of a lighthouse. 

 

 

Purpose

 

The lighthouse was built to guide the ships, and it was built on a base near the inner end of the western breakwater of the canal, surrounded by huge stones to repel the waves from all sides at the opening.

 

It consists of an octagonal tower from the outside in the middle, and was built of reinforced concrete. It's length is 56 meters, including the glass lantern, and the north and south wings of the tower are integrated into the body of the tower, each of two floors of stone, containing rooms and offices that were used as housing for observers and administrators.

 

 

Lighthouse Specifications

 

The lighthouse tower and its northern and southern wings represent a rectangle of regular dimensions, occupying an area of ​​30 meters long x 6 meters wide, 180 square meters wide, in addition to the area added to the northern wing from the west.

 

The original layout of the lighthouse and its annexes is characterized by symmetry in terms of space and the distribution of doors and windows, especially its northern and southern wings. 

 

 

Architectural description

 

This lighthouse is considered the first lighthouse built with reinforced concrete in the world. Its construction was supervised by the famous French engineer, François Connier, and what distinguishes it not only is its precedence in the construction material, but also its continuity and stability throughout this time, as this is the first time that this type of work is used in Building .

 

Day after day, the builders stacked layers with a thickness of 20 to 25 cm, then piled them up by pounding them against each other.

 

 

The decision to annex antiquities

 

Decision of the Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs No. 392 of 2012 was issued to include the old Port Said lighthouse building and its annexes within the Islamic and Coptic antiquities in the governorate.