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ST MICHAELS CHAIR

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DESCRIPTION

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Medieval lighthouse lantern on top of the crossing tower of St Michael's Church. It consists of a cresset with a 7.6 cm deep hollow to contain the oil and a small hole at the centre, presumably for the end of the rope wick. Three small square holes surround the central hole which were probably to hold the leg of a cast iron tripod. This would have supported the wick at a level to make it visible above the cill of the lantern. This is probably the light referred to in the 1433 will of Sir John Arundell. There was a second bequest to the light in 1515 but there appears to be no later record.

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The remains of a Medieval lighthouse lantern stand
on the SW corner of the parapet on the top of the crossing tower
of St Michael's Church (church centred SW 51452984, see SW 52
NW 3). It consists of a cresset with 3ins deep hollow to
contain the oil and a small hole at the centre, presumably for
the end of the rope wick. Three small square holes surround the
central hole which were probably to hold the leg of a cast iron
tripod. This would have supported the wick at a level to make
it visible above the cill of the lantern.

Enough survives to make possible a restored drawing of the
pentagonal stone lantern, see illustration, which gave 200
degrees coverage toward the SW approaches.

This is probably the light referred to in the 1433 will of Sir
John Arundell. There was a second bequest to the light in 1515
but there appears to be no later record.

The lantern remains are popularly known as 'St Michael's Chair'
with an attached tradition that it would give mastery to the
first of a married couple to sit in it. Fletcher notes that
the title chair was probably transferred from a rock chair
known as 'St Keyne's Chair', which juts out on the W side of
the Mount.

See photograph. (1-4)

Grade 1 (5)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Cornwall Archaeological Society Cornish archaeology

7, 1969 Page(s)64-6

( 2) General reference

Hague D B, Christie R. 1975. Lighthouses, 151-3

( 3) General reference

Fletcher J R. 1951. Short History of St Michael's Mount, 2

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 NVQ 27-SEP-60

( 5) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

Penwith. 9th October 1987 Page(s)31

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MONUMENT NO. 870617
ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT

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Medieval features on St Michael's Mount. The earliest feature includes the Benedictine Monastery (SW 52 NW 1), which was established during the 8th ce...

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