Archaeology Notes

Event ID 845756

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/845756

NT69NE 8.00 65500 99364

Lighthouse [NAT]

OS 1:10,000 map, 1976.

NT69NE 8.01 NT 65082 99953 North Horn

NT69NE 8.02 NT 65961 98830 South Horn

NT69NE 8.03 Centred NT 65679 99182 Keeper's Cottage, Coal Store and Stable Block

For predecessor beacon ('Old Lighthouse') at NT 65554 99386, see NT69NE 3.

For Low Lighthouse and cottages (NT 65489 99599), see NT69NE 6.

See also:

NT69NE 14 NT 6590 9909 Kirk Haven, Jetty

ENGINEERS: Robert Stevenson, 1816.

(Undated) information in NMRS.

The new (present) light on the Isle of May was completed in 1816, the design of its castellated tower reflecting the influence of Sir Walter Scott. It is one of the best examples in Britain of a lighthouse built in the grand manner on an unencumbered site unfettered by the austere functionalism necessary on a wave-swept rock. Here, the Northern Lighthouse Board erected a showpiece establishment suitable for entertaining the Board on inspection visits.

The square residential block is built on two floors; the flat roof has recently been renewed. Its corners are strengthened by shallow projections, and the tower of three stages is set forward to emphasise its vertical lines. The main front (which has a central pointed doorway) and the entire tower are of ashlar; the remainder of the walling is of rubble. Although the general effect is pleasing, a purist might find minor faults in scale. The interior is impressive, and perhaps the greatest surprise is the fine open-well newel stair which has a mahogany handrail, and until recently had a carpet. This gives access to the first floor and all the principal rooms, some of which contain original furniture, china and silver.

The actual (present) lantern dates from 1924, but the lower part is as built and is complete with such fittings as the original brass clock (dated 1816) and the barometer. The present lighting is by vaporising oil, and dates from 1924 when it replaced an electric arc-lamp installed in 1886. This in turn had replaced the original Argent oil-lamps and reflectors.

Although not as early as Dungeness [Kent], where the first electric light was displayed as early as 1862, the electric apparatus from the May is of interest, and is preserved in the Royal Scottish Museum [National Museum of Scotland]. The electric light worked well, and proved powerful, but was replaced on grounds of economy. The steam engines that drove the generators were coal-fired, requiring the services of seven keepers as against the present three. The small freshwater loch [NT 6588 9921] was enlarged to supply condensing water.

These engines were replaced by diesels, which supply air to the foghorns (NT69NE 8.01 and NT69NE 8.02 ) through heavy cast-iron pipelines.

D [B] Hague 1965.

This lighthouse became a 'rock' station in 1972, when the keepers' families were landed from the island.

R W Munro 1979.

Name cited as: Isle of May, Summit.

[Admiralty] 1980.

The Isle of May electruc light was first lit on 1 December 1886. Its installation required a substantial increase in the number of keepers; new houses were built as well as an engine house, a boiler house, a coal store and a workshop. It proved so labour-intensive that it was reconverted to oil in 1919.

K Allardyce and E M Hood 1986.

Name: Isle of May II (1814-16)

Location: N56 11 W2 33 Firth of Forth, 12 miles N of Dunbar

Designed and built: Robert Stevenson

Light first exhibited: 1 February 1816

Description: square stone tower in gothic style rising from square accommodation

Height of light above MHW: 239ft (73m)

Height of tower: 78ft (24m)

Light source and characteristics: Fixed white, now W Fl (1) ev 20 secs. 250W mercury vapour lamps: 1,250,000 cp: 22nm nominal range

Fog warning apparatus: Siren (4) ev 135 secs

Manning: unwatched (automatic since 31 March 1989), monitored from Northern Lighthouse Board HQ, Edinburgh

Replaced original lighthouse (1636): Listed

C Nicholson 1995.

This lighthouse is situated on the highest point of the island, from where it guards the entrance to the Firth of Forth.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 1 May 2006.