Dubh Artach

In June 1865 Thomas Stevenson landed on Dhuheartach also known as St John's Rock on the Torran Reef and in October that year recommended a light be positioned on the rock. In December 1865 and January 1866 ferocious storms raged and 24 vessels were wrecked or driven ashore in the area. This led to the construction of the light being sanctioned in October 1866.

David and Thomas Stevenson were responsible for the construction and it took several years to build due to the remote location and incredibly challenging conditions.

It was decided to construct a barrack for the workers on the rock, this was to be constructed 35 feet above the rock's surface and 60 feet above high water mark. In 1868 the strong winds hampered early progress and only two landings were possible in the first two months.

The barrack was divided into two storeys and was 20 feet high and 16 feet in diameter. It was completed on 28th September 1868 and at this time three quarters of the foundation for the tower had been excavated from the rock.

In 1869 the working season was from 25th March to 29 October and 59 landings were possible. By this time the foundations were completed and 5 courses of the tower had been detected.

In 1870 62 landings were possible between April and October though further bad weather reduced the working season to June, July and August. By the end of this working season the 31st course had been completed and the tower was 50 feet high.

By November 1871 the masonry was completed, the upper course being 101 feet above the foundation. The door on the tower was raised to 31 feet above the rock surface instead of the 20 feet that was originally planned. The diameter at the base was 36 feet with a maximum at the top of 16 feet.

1872 was spent placing the lantern and apparatus in position and the light was first used on 1st November 1872.

The lighthouse was automated in 1971 and is now monitored by the NLB in Edinburgh.

When Chance brothers made the optics in 1913 the name of the lighthouse appears as Dhu Heartache in their records. The spelling was changed in 1964 to the present Dubh Artach.

The Chance optic was removed from the lighthouse over 20 years ago and replaced with a 4th order lens mounted on a Pelangi Gearless Pedestal which rotates at 1rpm.