Archaeology Notes

Event ID 873978

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/873978

NS01NW 2.00 02757 19003

Lighthouse [NAT]

OS (GIS) MasterMap, July 2010.

Location formerly entered as NS 0276 1899 .

NS01NW 2.01 NS 02778 19013 Keepers' Houses

NS01NW 2.02 NS 02767 18992 Fog Horn

This lighthouse and its ancillary buildings stand at the S end of Pladda, from where it guards the southern entrances to bot Kilbrannan Sound (to the W) and the Firth of Clyde (to the E). A lighthouse was constructed on Pladda (apparently at this location) in 1790, and was one of five rebuilt between 1821 and 1830 in accordance with the Commissioners of Northern Lights' 'national establishment' policy. Robert Selkirk was in charge of the works.

Trials of paraffin oil illumination were conducted at Pladda after 1870, and a foghorn (presumably that entered as NS01NW 2) was installed after 1876. The (vertically-superimposed) 'double lights' formerly fitted were replaced by a powerful group flashing system in 1901.

The light was automated in 1990.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 12 July 2010.

R W Munro 1979; K Allardyce 1998.