Sumburgh Head Lighthouse
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| Location | Sumburgh Head Shetland Scotland |
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| OS grid | HU4072307872 |
| Coordinates | 59°51′15″N 1°16′29″W / 59.854053°N 1.274585°WCoordinates: 59°51′15″N 1°16′29″W / 59.854053°N 1.274585°W |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1821 |
| Built by | Robert Stevenson  |
| Construction | masonry tower |
| Height | 17 metres (56 ft) |
| Shape | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings | white tower, black lantern, ochre trim |
| Operator | Sumburgh Head Lighthouse[1][2] |
| Heritage | category A listed building |
| Light | |
| Automated | 1991 |
| Focal height | 91 metres (299 ft) |
| Range | 23 nautical miles (43 km; 26 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl (3) W 30s. |
Fl(3) W 30s 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.[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 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 plan to restore the lighthouse facilities and build a visitor centre.[1] The lighthouse is protected as a category A listed building.[3]
See also[]
- List of lighthouses in Scotland
- List of Northern Lighthouse Board lighthouses
- List of Category A listed buildings in Shetland
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.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sumburgh Head Lighthouse. |
- Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Visitor Centre and Nature Reserve - official site
- Sumburgh Head Lighthouse on Lighthouse Holidays page
- Northern Lighthouse Board
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- Lighthouses completed in 1821
- Lighthouses in Shetland
- Category A listed buildings in Shetland
- Category A listed lighthouses
- Tourist attractions in Shetland
- Protected areas of Shetland
- Works of Robert Stevenson (civil engineer)
- Mainland, Shetland
- Shetland stubs
- Scottish building and structure stubs
- European lighthouse stubs
- United Kingdom building and structure stubs