Scottish Blog

The Bell Rock Lighthouse is the oldest sea based lighthouse in the world.

Located near the coast of Angus, near Dundee and Fife, in Scotland, Bell Rock was one of the most dangerous and least visible reefs at the time. It was because of this reef and its danger to mariners that he Bell Rock Lighthouse was erected.

The Bell Rock Lighthouse stands at 36 meters in height. Although the base and surrounding rock of the Bell Rock Lighthouse is submerged at high tide, leaving the total elevation of the lighthouse at 28 meters in height. The light is currently intended to be seen in an eighteen mile radius of the lighthouse. It is said that in the 14th century Bell Rock was adorned with a bell which was operated by the motion of the sea and wind. This bell was later cut down by a pirate, tales tell of his later death after his ship succumbed to the reef.

Construction on the Bell Rock Lighthouse began in 1807. It was carried out by Robert Stevenson and a crew of construction workers. Much of the initial work on the Bell rock Lighthouse consisted of excavating the rock at the site and preparing the foundations. A raised chamber was later constructed for the workers. The tower was completed and officially finished in 1811. The light source at this time consisted of a number of silver lined parabolas with a candle at its focal point. It was said that this was one of the most powerful lights of its time. Later, this system was replaced by paraffin lamps and finally it was switched to electric lights in the 1960s.