Photographic copy of drawing showing elevation of tower and plan of roofs

E 25752 CN

Description Photographic copy of drawing showing elevation of tower and plan of roofs

Date 5/4/1855

Collection Records of the Northern Lighthouse Board, Edinburgh, Scotland

Catalogue Number E 25752 CN

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copy of DC 8907

Scope and Content Photographic copy of elevation of tower and plan of roofs, North Unst Lighthouse, Muckle Flugga, Unst, Shetland Islands This shows a sheet of drawings signed: 'R & T Stevenson', and dated 'Edin 5 April 1855', showing the tower and lantern, and a plan of the roof. Several smaller drawings illustrate further construction details and a copper chimney. Building a lighthouse on this rocky island required enormous skill. Firstly, rough steps were hewn into the side of the rock. Then a flat area of ground had to be levelled on top of the rock before basic iron barracks for the workmen (later faced with stone to provide accommodation for the keepers) and a temporary light (first lit in 1854) were built. The permanent tower was built from bricks, which were easier to transport than stones, and could be literally thrown from boats to the waiting workmen on the rock. North Unst Lighthouse (renamed Muckle Flugga Lighthouse in 1964) was built in 1858 by engineers David (1815-86) and Thomas Stevenson (1818-87), although a temporary light was placed here in 1854 to ensure safe passage for British ships during the Crimean War (1853-6). The tower stands 20m high and its light has a range of about 41km. The lighthouse was automated in March 1995. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Medium colour negative

Accession Number 1987/10

External Reference C/57/34

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