Sanda Island Lighthouse
 Sanda lighthouse, nicknamed "the Ship" | |
 | |
| Location | Sanda Island, Argyll and Bute, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| OS grid | NR7254903715 |
| Coordinates | 55°16′29″N 5°34′58″W / 55.274821°N 5.582836°W |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1850  |
| Built by | Alan Stevenson |
| Construction | masonry tower |
| Automated | 1977 |
| Height | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Shape | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern attached to 1-storey keeper’s house |
| Markings | white tower, black lantern, ochre trim |
| Power source | mains electricity |
| Operator | Northern Lighthouse Board |
| Heritage | category A listed building |
| Light | |
| Focal height | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Range | 15 nmi (28 km; 17 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 10s |
The Sanda Island Lighthouse is a lighthouse on Sanda Island, Argyll and Bute, United Kingdom.
History
[edit]Construction
[edit]On 2 December 1825, Christiana, while on a voyage from Greenock, Renfrewshire to Trinidad,[1] the ship was wrecked on Patterson's Rock, off Sanda Island.[2] This created a demand for a lighthouse to be constructed in the island, as the island was the turning-point into the Firth of Clyde, next to the North Channel.[3][4]
Initially, Trinity House proposed moving the Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse to the island, as the Mull lighthouse was frequently hidden due to fog. However, the commissioners of the Northern Lighthouse Board rejected this plan. As more wrecks occurred, the commissioners then decided to build on the summit of the Ship Rock, a detached lump of the island.[3]
The lighthouse was a stone masonry tower in three "steps" against the face of Ship Rock, and was constructed by Alan Stevenson. This design remains unique in Scotland.[3][5]
Operational history
[edit]On 1 January 1850, the lighthouse was lighted,[6][7] with a fixed red light, from sunset till sunrise.[5] The lighthouse was relieved by boat.[8][9]
In September 1876, a fog signal was installed at about 150 feet (46 m) above sea level.[10]
In November 1882, the character of the lighthouse was changed to intermittent white light, with a period of light for 8s, and darkness for 16s.[11][12] The light had 61,000 candlepower.[13]
In March 1900, Daniel Dempsey, the lighthouse's boatman, and his two sons, were awarded a silver medal by the National Lifeboat Association, for saving the crew of Sovereign, a schooner which was wrecked on the island in December 1899.[14][15]
References
[edit]- ↑ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List (6097). 10 March 1826.
- ↑ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List (6072). 13 December 1825.
- 1 2 3 Munro, Robert William (1979). Scottish Lighthouses. Scotland. p. 124. ISBN 9780906191323. OCLC 8795307.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ↑ "THE LIGHTHOUSES THAT GUARD THE MARINER AGAINST THE ROCK-GIRDLED SCOTTISH COAST". The Sphere. Vol. 86, no. 1125. 13 August 1921. pp. 166–167. ProQuest 1689121101.
- 1 2 "Advertisements & Notices". The Glasgow Herald. No. 4892. 17 December 1849. Gale BB3203452362.
- ↑ "SANDA'S CENTENARY: A Famous Scottish Lighthouse is About to Celebrate 100 Years of Service". The Sphere. Vol. 199, no. 2603. 24 December 1949. p. 468. ProQuest 1693087539.
- ↑ "Another Lighthouse Is Launched To-Morrow". Evening Telegraph. No. 22798. 19 December 1949. p. 9. Gale ID3240388440.
- ↑ "General News". Edinburgh Evening News. No. 7532. 16 June 1897. p. 6. Gale ID3235235592.
- ↑ "LIGHTHOUSE STORE STEAMER ASHORE". The Glasgow Herald. No. 143. 16 June 1897. Gale BC3203863578.
- ↑ "Advertisements & Notices". Belfast News Letter. No. 19059. 26 August 1876. Gale BB3202087086.
- ↑ "Advertisements & Notices". Belfast News Letter. No. 21005. 9 November 1882. Gale BC3202127456.
- ↑ "Advertisements & Notices". Liverpool Mercury. No. 10866. 9 November 1882. Gale BB3204245998.
- ↑ "Centenary of a Lighthouse". The Children's Newspaper. 14 January 1950. p. 3. ISSN 2977-5434. ProQuest 2854184939.
- ↑ "Recognition of Gallantry". Evening Telegraph. No. 7211. p. 3. Gale JF3235738732.
- ↑ "RECOGNITION OF GALLANTRY". The Southern Reporter. No. 2197. 29 March 1900. p. 4. Gale JL3245736158.
External links
[edit]
- Sanda Island Lighthouse at the Northern Lighthouse Board website