Sumburgh Head Lighthouse

Lighthouse

59°51′15″N 1°16′29″W / 59.854053°N 1.274585°W / 59.854053; -1.274585TowerConstructed1821Built byRobert Stevenson

Constructionmasonry towerAutomated1991Height17 metres (56 ft)Shapecylindrical tower with balcony and lanternMarkingswhite tower, black lantern, ochre trimOperatorSumburgh Head Lighthouse^[1]^[2]Heritagecategory A listed building

LightFocal height91 metres (299 ft)Range23 nautical miles (43 km; 26 mi)CharacteristicFl (3) W 30s.

Sumburgh Head Lighthouse is a lighthouse on Sumburgh Head at the southern tip of the Mainland of Shetland.

History

Diamond lattice window of the cylindrical lantern

The lighthouse was built by Robert Stevenson in 1821 and is the oldest lighthouse in Shetland.^[1] From 1906 until 1987, there was also an active foghorn,^[2] which is traversable in azimuth. This replaced a fog bell which had been presented after the loss of the Royal Victoria in 1864. The bell now hangs in the parish church at Dunrossness.^[2] The light was automated in 1991 and the keepers' houses were converted into holiday accommodation. The foghorn was restored in 2015 and sounds on special occasions.[1] [2] The lighthouse complex also has offices for the RSPB who look after the bird reserve which surrounds the lighthouse.

The Northern Lighthouse Board operate the light, whilst the Shetland Amenity Trust own the site and restored the lighthouse facilities and built a visitor centre which opened in 2014.^[1] The lighthouse is protected as a category A listed building.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Scotland: Shetland". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
^ ^a ^b ^c Sumburgh Head Northern Lighthouse Board. Retrieved 29 May 2016
^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Sumburgh Head, Sumburgh Lighthouse... (Category A Listed Building) (LB5442)". Retrieved 22 March 2019.