Spotlight on lighthouses

Some of our lighthouse history is kept by the National Records of Scotland.

According to their website, although the earliest Scottish lighthouse was constructed in the 1600s, the origins of the Northern Lighthouse Board date to 1782, when a number of severe storms highlighted the lack of lighthouses around the Scottish coasts.

Following an act of parliament in 1786 the Commissioners were created and given powers to borrow money, purchase land and levy dues from ships to finance their work.

The lighthouse on the Isle of May was built by James Maxwell of Innerwick and John Cunninghame of Barnes, under a patent from Charles I of 1635. Local lights, which were much smaller than lighthouses, and seamarks were usually constructed and maintained under acts of parliament or burgh charters.

The earliest recorded Scottish light was at Buddon Ness on the Tay, constructed by an act of the Privy Council in 1687. An act of 1836 made local lights and seamarks subject to the supervision of the Commissioners.

If you have any stories to share on this subject, please get in touch by email at craigie@ thecourier.co.uk

This atmospheric 1957 picture shows the lighthouse at Scurdie Ness near Montrose.

The Bell Rock lighthouse off the coast near Arbroath.

This was taken in 1954 and shows the Upper Lighthouse at Buddon Ness. You can see the remains of the 1753 lighthouse forming the north gable of the keeper’s house.