Where can I find information on lighthouses?

Information about the history of lighthouses in Scotland is relatively easy to get hold of through published books and the Internet, and by visiting lighthouse museums. Books to look at include R W Munro, Scottish Lighthouses (Thule, 1979); K Allardyce and E Hood, At Scotland’s Edge (Collins,1986); K Allardyce, Scotland’s Edge Revisited (Collins, 1998); B Bathurst, The Lighthouse Stevensons (Flamingo, 1998); J Hume, Harbour Lights in Scotland (Scottish Vernacular Buildings Working Group, 1997); J Leslie and R Paxton, Bright Lights: The Stevenson Family of Engineers 1752-1971 (1999); C. Mair, A Star for Seamen: the Stevenson Family of Engineers (J Murray, 1978); R L Stevenson, Records of a Family of Engineers (1896).

The most useful websites are those of the Scottish Lighthouse Museum <https://lighthousemuseum.org.uk/> Northern Lighthouse Board and Trinity House. All accessed 24 April 2024] Two lighthouses have visitor centres: the Scottish Lighthouse Museum at Fraserburgh (in the north east of Scotland) and the Ardnamurchan Lighthouse (in the extreme west of the British mainland).

Where can I find information about Robert Stevenson and his family?

Firstly, look at published histories: R L Stevenson, Records of a Family of Engineers (1896); B Bathurst, The Lighthouse Stevensons (Flamingo, 1998); J Leslie and R Paxton, Bright Lights: The Stevenson Family of Engineers 1752-1971 (1999); C. Mair, A Star for Seamen: the Stevenson Family of Engineers (J Murray, 1978).

If you need to consult original records, start at the National Library of Scotland, which holds the business records of Robert Stevenson and Sons (Acc. 10706).

Where can I find plans of a particular lighthouse?

Firstly, try the Northern Lighthouse Board Drawings Collection, which is held by the National Monuments Record for Scotland. Another source for plans of lighthouses is the Register House Plans series in the National Records of Scotland (RHP). For some lighthouses on the Clyde there are lighthouse drawings among the records of the Clyde Lighthouse Trust, in Glasgow City Archives (reference: T-CN40-44). The Robert Stevenson & Sons business papers in the National Library of Scotland contains a few lighthouse plans.

Where can I find original records and other information about the Flannan Lighthouse disaster?

Most of the information about the event is contained in the records of the Northern Lighthouse Commission, at the National Records of Scotland. In addition, most national newspapers at the time covered the story. The Northern Lighthouse Commission records (all at the National Records of Scotland) which relate to the incident are: NLC3/1/1 Secretary’s department correspondence and reports (1 Jan 1901 to 31 March 1902) includes: a letter from County Clerk, Dingwall, granting permission to place a winch on Breascleit Pier; copy telegrams and letters from the master of the Hesperus and others reporting the disaster and steps taken; correspondence with the Board of Trade and Crown Office; reports by Superintendent Muirhead and others; correspondence regarding insurance payments, pensions and the deceased keepers’ families; letters and reports regarding analysis of water in the well at Breascleit and an inspection voyage in1901. NLC 2/1/87-88, minute books of the Commissioners (1899-1903) includes minutes concerning the lighthouse in the years leading up to the disaster, the disaster itself, and subsequent enquiries, reports and events.