Sumburgh Head Lighthouse Explained

Sumburgh Head Lighthouse
Location:Sumburgh Head
Shetland
Scotland
Coordinates:59.8541°N -1.2746°W
Yearbuilt:1821
Automated:1991
Construction:masonry tower
Shape:cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Marking:white tower, black lantern, ochre trim
Height:17m (56feet)
Focalheight:91m (299feet)
Characteristic:Fl (3) W 30s.
Managingagent:Sumburgh Head Lighthouse[1]

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

History

The lighthouse was built by Robert Stevenson in 1821 and is the oldest lighthouse in Shetland. From 1906 until 1987, there was also an active foghorn,[1] which was orginaly traversable in azimuth. This replaced the fog bell, which had been presented after the loss of the in 1864. The bell now hangs in the parish church at Dunrossness.[1] 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.https://www.scotsman.com/news/blast-past-sumburgh-foghorn-sounds-again-1510222 https://www.shetland.org/60n/blogs/posts/sumburgh-head-foghorn-sounds-again 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. The lighthouse is protected as a category A listed building.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.nlb.org.uk/LighthouseLibrary/Lighthouse/Sumburgh-Head/ Sumburgh Head