Barns Ness Lighthouse is 3.1 miles (5 km) from Dunbar and was constructed by the engineers and brothers David A. Stevenson and Charles Alexander Stevenson,[1] cousins of the novelist Robert Louis Stevenson, between 1899 and 1901.[2] Taking approximately 2½ years to construct, it was constructed from stone quarried from Craigree (near Cramond) and Barnton.[1] In 1976 it was described as a tall tower, slightly tapered with a circular section having a circular lantern which has triangular panes and a domed roof. The keepers' cottages were, as is typical, one floored, flat roofed buildings which were coated with harling but had their quoins exposed. The lintel above the door to the lighthouse is dated 1901. Within the compound of the lighthouse there was also a sundial and a flagpole.[3]

Barns Ness Lighthouse
Barns Ness Lighthouse
Map
LocationNear Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland
OS gridNT7231777236
Coordinates55°59.2′N 2°26.6′W / 55.9867°N 2.4433°W / 55.9867; -2.4433
Tower
Constructed1899-1901
Built byDavid Alan Stevenson, Charles Alexander Stevenson Edit this on Wikidata
ConstructionStone
Automated1986
Height37 metres (121 ft)
ShapeSlightly Conical Circular Cylinder
MarkingsWhite tower
Heritagecategory B listed building Edit this on Wikidata
Light
First lit1901
DeactivatedOctober, 2005
Focal height118 feet (36 m)
Intensity1,300,000 CD
Range8.7 nautical miles; 10.0 miles (16.1 km)
CharacteristicIsophase White every 4 Seconds

The stone proved resilient during the Second World War, when the lighthouse was machine-gunned yet sustained no damage.[4]

The lighthouse was staffed by two lighthouse-keepers until 1966 when it was electrified, with a backup generator and emergency battery (used if the generator failed). It remained semi-automated, requiring only a single keeper, until 1986, when it was completely automated.[1] The power of the sealed beam light system was up to 1,300,000 candlepower.[3]

In early 2005, the UK and Ireland lighthouse authorities issued a consultation regarding a review of lighthouses, and it was decided that the Barns Ness Lighthouse was no longer needed. It was deactivated in October 2005.[5] It was put up for sale in 2006.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Barns Ness Lighthouse". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Barns Ness Lighthouse and Keepers Cottages". Go East Lothian. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Historic Environment Scotland. "Barns Ness, Lighthouse And Keepers' Cottages (58823)". Canmore. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  4. ^ "10 stunning lighthouses to visit and stay in". Visit Scotland. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  5. ^ Liz Hanson (2013). East Lothian Through Time. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1445635767.
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