Isle Of May, Low Lighthouse And Cottages
Cottage (19th Century), Lighthouse (19th Century)
Site Name Isle Of May, Low Lighthouse And Cottages
Classification Cottage (19th Century), Lighthouse (19th Century)
Alternative Name(s) May Island
Canmore ID 57878
Site Number NT69NE 6
NGR NT 65489 99599
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/57878
- Council Fife
- Parish Anstruther Wester
- Former Region Fife
- Former District North East Fife
- Former County Fife
NT69NE 6 65489 99599
The Low Light (dis) [NAT]
OS 1:10,000 map, 1976.
The 'low light' was built in 1844 to display a fixed light to the N. An attractive feature is the cast-iron panelling that fills the solid blind facets of the lantern; each has a pretty picture cut in relief. Now disused as a lighthouse, this building is a bird observatory and field station of the Midlothian Ornithological Club.
D [B] Hague 1965.
Construction (1844)
Originally constructed to work in conjunction with the main lighthouse (NT69NE8). The 'low light' was built in 1844 to display a fixed light to the N. An attractive feature is the cast-iron panelling that fills the solid blind facets of the lantern; each has a pretty picture cut in relief. Now disused as a lighthouse, this building is a bird observatory and field station of the Midlothian Ornithological Club.
D [B] Hague 1965.
Project (2007)
This project was undertaken to input site information listed in 'Civil engineering heritage: Scotland - Lowlands and Borders' by R Paxton and J Shipway, 2007.
Publication Account (2007)
In 1843–44 a small low-level lighthouse was built to inform the mariner that when one light was above the
other his ship was in line with the treacherous Carr Rocks about eight miles north. This arrangement did not prove sufficiently effective and led to the stationing of lightships off the Rock from 1877. The original coal-fired light was replaced in 1816 by the present architecturally imposing lighthouse reminiscent of a small castle.
R Paxton and J Shipway 2007
Reproduced from 'Civil Engineering heritage: Scotland - Lowlands and Borders' with kind permission from Thomas Telford Publishers.
Change Of Use
Now disused as a lighthouse, this building is a bird observatory and field station of the Midlothian Ornithological Club.
D [B] Hague 1965.
