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Lighthouse Location
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St Abbs Head Lighthouse
United Kingdom. Scotland
After the sinking of the Martello on Carr Rock in 1857 the Northern Lighthouse Board recommended the erection of a lighthouse at St Abbs Head.
The lighthouse engineers were David and Thomas stevenson and the first order optic was supplied by Chance Brothers of Smethwick near Birmingham.
The oil burning light was first exhibited on 24th February 1962. The light was converted to incandescent in 1906, to electric operation in 1966 and finally automated in 1993.
It appears the original Chance lens remains in situ at present. The lighthouse is a listed building of historical interest.
The area of St Abbs head is owned by the National Trust for Scotland and is managed as a nature reserve. It is possible to walk to the lighthouse and adjacent foghorn but the lighthouse is not open to the public.
| Manufacture Date | 1861 |
|---|---|
| Lighthouse Construction | 1862 |
| Country | United Kingdom. Scotland |
| Commissioning Body | Northern Lighthouse Board |
| Lens Order | 1st order |
| Lens Type | Revolving |
| Status | publish |
| Light Character | Fl W 10s |
| Lighthouse Markings | Lantern on top of a single storey service building. The building is white with ochre band at the top and bottom. The lantern and cupola are both black. |
| Lighthouse Parts | None known. |
| Management Body Ports Authority | Northern Lighthouse Board |
| Preserver | National Trust For Scotland. St Abbs Visitor Centre. |
| Coastal Erosion Vulnerability | |
| Condition Observations | The lighthouse appears in good condition. |
| Open Status (Site) | Open |
| Open Status (Tower) | Closed |
| Coordinates | 55.9162296949,-2.138780547 |
| Other | ARLHS SCO-224; Admiralty A2850; NGA 2320. |
| Data Source | Online research. |