Eilean Glas Lighthouse
| Eilean Glas Lighthouse | |||
| Scalpay, Outer Hebrides | |||
 Eilean Glas lighthouse | |||
| Location | |||
| Grid reference: | NG247948 | ||
| Location: | 57°51’25"N, 6°38’31"W | ||
| Characteristics | |||
| Height: | 100 feet | ||
| Tower shape: | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern | ||
| Tower marking: | tower with red and white bands, black lantern | ||
| Light: | Fl (3) W 20s. | ||
| Intensity: | 400,000 candela | ||
| Focal height: | 141 feet | ||
| Range: | 23 nautical miles | ||
| History | |||
| Built 1824 | |||
| First lit: | 1824 | ||
| Architect: | Robert Stevenson | ||
| Information | |||
| Owned by: | Northern Lighthouse Board | ||
| Website: | Eilean Glas Lighthouse: NLB | ||
Eilean Glas Lighthouse stands on the east coast of the island of Scalpay in the Outer Hebrides, in Inverness-shire, shining out over The Minch.
The original light here was one of the original four lights commissioned by the Commissioners of the Northern Lights, and the first in the Hebrides[1] (the others were Kinnaird Head, Mull of Kintyre and North Ronaldsay). These lighthouses were built by Thomas Smith.[1]
Eilean Glas light was first displayed in 1789. The original tower was replaced in 1824 by Smith's stepson Robert Stevenson. In 1852 the light was changed to a revolving system lens. The lighthouse was an early candidate for automation and this was carried out in 1978. Several of the original buildings have been sold off.[1] The fog signal was discontinued in the 1980s although the horn remains in place as a decoration.
The 100-foot tower is painted with two distinctive broad red bands. Light is now from catoptric sealed beam lamps, (similar to car head lights) mounted on a gearless pedestal.[1]
In 2004, the owners of the lighthouse building were convicted of theft and of running a fraudulent charity to pay for the mortgage on the property.[2]
The lighthouse is owned and operated by the Northern Lighthouse Board, and the site's other buildings are owned by North Harris Trust and Eilean Glas Trust.[3] The site is a Category A listed building.[4]
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Eilean Glas Lighthouse) |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Eilean Glas Lighthouse: Northern Lighthouse Board
- ↑ "Lighthouse fraud battle continues". BBC News. 23 September 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/5373260.stm.
- ↑ Urpeth, Peter (23 January 2019). "Scalpay's Eilean Glas lighthouse could be set for a makeover". Stornoway Gazette. https://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/news/scalpays-eilean-glas-lighthouse-could-be-set-makeover-149423.
- ↑ Scalpay, Eilean Glas Lighthouse, Old Lighthouse - Listing detail (Historic Environment Scotland)
