Sanda Island Lighthouse

Sanda Island Lighthouse
Sanda lighthouse, nicknamed "the Ship"
LocationSanda Island, Argyll and Bute, United Kingdom
OS gridNR7254903715
Coordinates55°16′30″N 5°34′58″W / 55.275°N 5.5828°W / 55.275; -5.5828
Tower
Constructed1850 Edit this on Wikidata
Built byAlan Stevenson Edit this on Wikidata
Constructionmasonry tower
Automated1991 Edit this on Wikidata
Height15 m (49 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
Shapecylindrical tower with balcony and lantern attached to 1-storey keeper’s house
Markingswhite tower
Power sourcemains electricity Edit this on Wikidata
OperatorNorthern Lighthouse Board Edit this on Wikidata
Heritagecategory A listed building Edit this on Wikidata
Light
Focal height50 m (160 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
Range15 nmi (28 km; 17 mi) Edit this on Wikidata
CharacteristicFl W 10s Edit this on Wikidata

The Sanda Island Lighthouse is a lighthouse on Sanda Island, Argyll and Bute, United Kingdom.

One of the thirteen major lighthouses designed and built by Alan Stevenson, the lighthouse was established in 1850, after a series of shipwrecks in the area. The three "steps" of the lighthouse were due to the cliff on which it was built, and remain a unique design in Scotland.

Automated in 1991, the lighthouse is operated by the Northern Lighthouse Board, and designated a Category A listed building.

History

Construction

Three "steps" of the lighthouse

On 2 December 1825, the ship Christiana, while on a voyage from Greenock, Renfrewshire, to Trinidad, was wrecked on Patterson's Rock, off Sanda Island. Earlier wrecks included Hannah in December 1770, and Henrietta in October 1816.

The wrecks created a demand for a lighthouse to be constructed on the island, as the island was the turning-point into the Firth of Clyde, next to the North Channel.

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. The lighthouse was a stone masonry tower in three "steps" against the face of Ship Rock, and was designed and built by Alan Stevenson. This design remains unique in Scotland.

Operation

On 1 January 1850, the lighthouse was lit with a fixed red light from sunset till sunrise. The lighthouse was relieved by boat. In September 1876, a fog signal was installed at about 150 feet (46 m) above sea level. 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. The light had 61,000 candlepower. 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.

In 1991, the lighthouse was converted to an automated light. This light remains operational to date.

Incidents

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List (6097). 10 March 1826. Retrieved 27 September 2026.
  2. ↑ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List (6072). 13 December 1825. Retrieved 27 September 2026.
  3. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland (17 July 2002). "Christiana: Paterson's Rock, Sound of Sanda, Firth of Clyde (NRHE ID 218543)". Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  4. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland (18 October 2002). "Hannah: Sanda Island, Firth of Clyde (NRHE ID 218145)". Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  5. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland (29 April 2009). "Henrietta: Henrietta Reef, Sheep Island, Sound of Sanda, Firth of Clyde (NRHE ID 298604)". Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 Munro, Robert William (1979). Scottish Lighthouses. Stornoway, Lewis, Scotland: Thule Press. p. 124. ISBN 9780906191323. OCLC 8795307.
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. 1 2 "Advertisements & Notices". The Glasgow Herald. No. 4892. 17 December 1849. Gale BB3203452362.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ "Another Lighthouse Is Launched To-Morrow". Evening Telegraph. No. 22798. Dundee, Scotland. 19 December 1949. p. 9. Gale ID3240388440.
  11. ↑ "General News". Edinburgh Evening News. No. 7532. 16 June 1897. p. 6. Gale ID3235235592.
  12. ↑ "Lighthouse Store Steamer Ashore". The Glasgow Herald. No. 143. 16 June 1897. Gale BC3203863578.
  13. ↑ "Advertisements & Notices". Belfast News Letter. No. 19059. 26 August 1876. Gale BB3202087086.
  14. ↑ "Advertisements & Notices". Belfast News Letter. No. 21005. 9 November 1882. Gale BC3202127456.
  15. ↑ "Advertisements & Notices". Liverpool Mercury. No. 10866. 9 November 1882. Gale BB3204245998.
  16. ↑ "Centenary of a Lighthouse". The Children's Newspaper. 14 January 1950. p. 3. ISSN 2977-5434. ProQuest 2854184939.
  17. ↑ "Recognition of Gallantry". Evening Telegraph. No. 7211. p. 3. Gale JF3235738732.
  18. ↑ "Recognition of Gallantry". The Southern Reporter. No. 2197. 29 March 1900. p. 4. Gale JL3245736158.
  19. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland (16 December 2020). "Sanda lighthouse and stair towers, excluding helipad, solar panels, oil tank and water tank, Sanda Island. (Category A Listed Building LB52565)". Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  20. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland (9 September 2005). "Clansman: Sanda Island, Sound of Sanda, Firth of Clyde (NRHE ID 114935)". Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  21. ↑ "Clyde Steamer Aground at Sanda". Glasgow Herald. No. 9220. 22 July 1869. Gale BC3203591742.
  22. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland (19 March 2002). "Sovereign: Sanda Island, Firth of Clyde (NRHE ID 115281)". Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  23. ↑ "U.S. Ship Wrecked". Nottingham Evening Post. No. 21105. 18 March 1946. p. 4. Gale JA3239701991.
  24. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland (13 June 2002). "Bryon Darnton: Boiler Reef, Sanda Island, Firth of Clyde (NRHE ID 114911)". Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  25. ↑ "Survivors' Ordeal on Stranded Ship". Aberdeen Journal. No. 4. 18 March 1946. p. 4. Gale JA3238724547.
  26. ↑ Campsie, Alison (17 February 2025). "Uninhabited Scottish island looks to future as tourism - and pub - set to be revived". The Scotsman. ISSN 0307-5850. OCLC 614655655. Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  27. ↑ "Captain stayed on grounded ship". The Irish Times. 11 March 1957. p. 9. ProQuest 523087300.
  28. ↑ "Rescue from a Steamer in Dense Fog". The Life-Boat. 34 (380): 428. June 1957. Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  29. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland (19 March 2002). "Gracehill: Sanda, Firth of Clyde (NRHE ID 115509)". Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  30. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland (17 July 2002). "Hereford Express: Sanda, Sound of Sanda, Firth of Clyde (NRHE ID 115253)". Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  31. ↑ Easton, John (30 October 1970). "RSPCA inspector flies to aid cattle aboard grounded ship". The Scotsman. p. 1. ISSN 0307-5850. OCLC 614655655. ProQuest 3160726618.
  32. ↑ Troon, Anthony (13 November 1971). "Careless helmsman blamed for wreck of cattle-ship". The Scotsman. p. 6. ISSN 0307-5850. OCLC 614655655. ProQuest 3160320782.
  33. ↑ "Cattle may die". The Guardian. 30 October 1970. p. 22. ISSN 0261-3077. OCLC 60623878. ProQuest 185429255.
  34. ↑ "259 cattle die in stricken vessel". The Guardian. 31 October 1970. p. 22. ISSN 0261-3077. OCLC 60623878. ProQuest 185538838.
  35. ↑ "Cattle-ship inquiry in Holland". The Scotsman. 13 November 1970. p. 5. ISSN 0307-5850. OCLC 614655655. ProQuest 3160728474.