Start Point Lighthouse was the first revolving light lighthouse in Scotland and the only one to be painted in black and white vertical stripes!
First lit in 1806, on October 2nd.
The Start Point Lighthouse on Sanday, Orkney is a 23m tower, with a 4th order Fresnel lens, which is made from a series of perfectly polished crystal glass lenses set into a brass structure.
It had a characteristic pattern of 2 flashes every 20 seconds.
This lighthouse was the brain child of the famous lighthouse engineer, Robert Stevenson; he needed to improve on the dimly lit tower and construction was completed in 1806 for the Northern Light Board.
It was painted with its black and white vertical stripes around 1915, which makes it a recognisable day mark; it is the only Scottish lighthouse painted in this way.
Prior to the automation of Start Point in 1962 a Principal Lightkeeper and an Assistant, with their families, lived at the light. The families were almost self sufficient and would have kept cows and sheep at the station. Lightkeeping was a remote, lonely and hard existence. At night each keeper was required to keep a watch in the lightroom to ensure that the light flashed correctly to character. During daytime keepers were engaged in cleaning, painting if necessary and generally keeping the premises clean and tidy.
Now he is only accessible at low tide. Wellies advisable at all times as the causeway is now washed away due to rising sea levels.
Don’t worry, an emergency back-up light is positioned on the balcony should the main light ever fail!
Start Point Lighthouse is powered by Solar energy; a bank of 36 solar panels charge batteries which are then used to power the light.
If you do get the opportunity to see it first hand, then maybe try this walk – HERE!
The light stands close to Mount Misery, a chambered cairn, and is on the SE of Start Point (now a tidal island).
Sanday, Orkney
Start Point Lighthouse was the first revolving light lighthouse in Scotland and the only one to be painted in black and white vertical stripes!
First lit in 1806, on October 2nd.
The Start Point Lighthouse on Sanday, Orkney is a 23m tower, with a 4th order Fresnel lens, which is made from a series of perfectly polished crystal glass lenses set into a brass structure.
It had a characteristic pattern of 2 flashes every 20 seconds.
This lighthouse was the brain child of the famous lighthouse engineer, Robert Stevenson; he needed to improve on the dimly lit tower and construction was completed in 1806 for the Northern Light Board.
It was painted with its black and white vertical stripes around 1915, which makes it a recognisable day mark; it is the only Scottish lighthouse painted in this way.
Prior to the automation of Start Point in 1962 a Principal Lightkeeper and an Assistant, with their families, lived at the light. The families were almost self sufficient and would have kept cows and sheep at the station. Lightkeeping was a remote, lonely and hard existence. At night each keeper was required to keep a watch in the lightroom to ensure that the light flashed correctly to character. During daytime keepers were engaged in cleaning, painting if necessary and generally keeping the premises clean and tidy.
Now he is only accessible at low tide. Wellies advisable at all times as the causeway is now washed away due to rising sea levels.
Don’t worry, an emergency back-up light is positioned on the balcony should the main light ever fail!
Start Point Lighthouse is powered by Solar energy; a bank of 36 solar panels charge batteries which are then used to power the light.
If you do get the opportunity to see it first hand, then maybe try this walk – HERE!
The light stands close to Mount Misery, a chambered cairn, and is on the SE of Start Point (now a tidal island).
Sanday, Orkney
