|
Vital
Statistics
A comprehensive list of the main features of the Lighthouse
Description
of the Rock
An historical background to the Bell Rock • its physical
location and dimensions • an account by an old Scottish
writer • a 16th century description by an early French
cosmographer • why the name Bell Rock? • “Ralph
the Rover” - true or false?
What's in a Name
Peter Mackay reasons the origins of the name of Inchcape • contains fascinating early maps from the NLS Map Room.
Marking
the Spot
Terrible storms in December 1799 • first survey of
the Rock by Stevenson in 1800 • plans submitted on
similar construction lines as the Eddystone • HMS York
strikes Rock in 1804 - all hands lost • Act passed
by Parliament in July 1806
Scots Magazine's "Account" of 1807
A very early account of how the lighthouse would be built • author unknown
• interesting engraving included
1807
Setting up of temporary Floating Light • commissioning
of supply vessel (Smeaton) • workyard in Arbroath acquired
• workmen (mainly masons) taken on • commencement
of works in August 1807 • near-disaster on the Rock
• the Beacon-house (which eventually housed the artificers)
started • by October foundation pit of the Lighthouse
was well underway • work finished for the season on
the 6th October.
1808
The Sir Joseph Banks specially built to house artificers
• Protection certificates necessary against Impressment
• problems with sea-sickness • first entire course
laid by mid-October • dangerous conditions of working
in darkness • accidents at the Rock and at sea •
the Railways at the Rock under construction • only
three courses completed that year
1809
A particularly bad winter • damage to Railways •
works resumes on April 20 • Beacon completed •
severe gale hits coast in June • Stevenson preoccupied
with new Balance Crane • experiments with alternate
red and white lights • solid part of the House completed
1810
(May - mid-July)
More winter damage • Beacon house further reinforced
• work starts on May 7 • problems with sandstone
for upper House • mutiny comes to the Bell Rock •
work well to the fore • House now approx. 80 feet high
• interesting description of beacon-house apartment
1810
(end-July - December)
New sandstone blocks from Edinburgh • worries about
balcony floor • 90th and last course laid • concerns
about delivery of glass • advertisement prepared for
appearance of Light • everything in readiness by Dec.
27
1811
to 1823
Light first exhibited on Feb. 1 • interesting observations
from the Lighthouse • 500 visitors in first year •
lighthouse painted • shore station (Signal Tower) completed
(1813) • Sir Walter Scott visits in 1814 • permanent
railways complete by 1819 • experiment with carrier
pigeons as means of communication with the Signal tower
Construction
Techniques
Still standing after 200 years • design and construction
after Smeaton's Eddystone • dovetailing • gauge
ruler or trainer • vertical joggles • trenails
and wedges • zonal or belt construction • roofs
and floors • ring of iron • different types of
cement
The
Lightroom of 1811
Only the best equipment used • parabolic reflectors
with improvements by Stevenson • further development
by Thomas Stevenson in 1849 • Ami Argand burners with
refinements • illuminants (spermacetti, colza, and
paraffin) over the years • machinery to turn the light
• bells for foggy weather
Masonry
Courses
Plans of the various courses (Imperfect or Foundation Course
• First Entire course • Course 27 - Staircase
• Course 39 - Provision Storeroom • Course 48
- Oil Storeroom • Course 57 - Kitchen • Course
66 - Bedroom • Course 75 - Library • Course 86
- Lightroom and Library • Course 90 - Lightroom and
Chandelier
Railways
of the Bell Rock
Temporary railways • damage caused by storms •
specifications • permanent railways built 1815-1819
The Bell Rock Lighthouse Railway
Prof. Paxton's abridged account of one of Britain's earliest narrow gauge railways • the life of Francis Watt - unsung hero of the Bell Rock Lighthousel
Signal
Tower/Shore Base
Completed in 1813 • communications with the Bell •
keepers leave in the 1950s • now a museum for the town
of Arbroath
Machinery,
Equipment and Inventory
The “nuts and bolts” of building a lighthouse
• balance crane • moveable beam crane • lanterns
• beacon supports • Woolwich sling cart
Keeping
up with New Technology
New lighting apparatus in 1842 • paraffin replaces
spermaceti as oil source • major alterations in 1902
• further modernisation in 1962 • automated in
1987 • more changes for the Millennium in 1999
Automation
at the Bell Rock
Further work started in the late 1990s • more fire
damage to the tower • "Third Order" lenses
and the gearless pedestal • batteries, electrics and
solar power • monitored from Fife Ness • further
refurbishment • future maintenance to helipad and railways
Accidents,
Attacks and Shipwrecks
Light fails in 1890 due to an explosion • damage caused
by fire in 1987 • helicopter accident in 1955 •
machine-gunned during Second World War • HMS Argyll
strikes Rock in 1915
|
