The important duties of the lightkeepers may seem mundane but the work could be dangerous. Keepers were exposed to the extremes of weather and nature in isolated locations. A famous case is the mysterious disappearance of three lightkeepers from the Flannan Isles Lighthouse in December 1900. Inspiring poetry, novels and films, it is likely that severe weather conditions resulted in the Keepers being lost to the sea.
The first page of a letter from Assistant Lightkeeper, Joseph Moore, to the NLC. Correspondence and Reports, 1901-1902. NRS, NLC3/1/1
Letter from Assistant Lightkeeper, Joseph Moore, to the NLC. Moore arrived at the Flannan Isles Lighthouse for relief duty on 26 December 1900 where he found it deserted. Lamps were trimmed and ready, the lens and machinery cleaned, the kitchen tidied, and two sets of outdoor clothing missing. Moore noted that the last keeper’s log recorded the time of extinguishing the light and the weather on the morning of 15 December 1900. This suggests the men disappeared during the afternoon of the same day. Correspondence and Reports, 1901-1902. NRS, NLC3/1/1, page 2
‘A dreadful accident has happened at Flannans…’ This telegram has been recreated from a typed copy. It was sent by the Master of the Hesperus, the lighthouse tender which relieved the lightkeepers, on the day it landed on the island and discovered the disappearance of all three keepers. The light had not been exhibited for the previous 10 days. Altered reproduction, Correspondence and Reports, 1901-1902. NRS, NLC3/1/1
In times of conflict, these guiding beacons could be used as navigational markers for enemy attacks. During the First World War, the coast became dark as many lights were extinguished. During the Second World War, the lights were not turned off by default, but instead controlled by the Admiralty. Communications to keepers dictated the hours lights were to be lit. However, on the east coast of Scotland they were switched off for the majority of the time.
Despite the fact that lighthouses were not legitimate targets, there were several instances of them being attacked. During the Second World War there were roughly 30 attacks on lighthouses. The Bell Rock was machine-gunned several times, with a bomb dropping a short distance from the tower and exploding on 1 April 1941. Fortunately, no lives were lost and only a few panes of glass shattered.
In the Second World War, concerns were raised about the potential of lighthouses becoming ‘special targets’. There were around 30 attacks on lighthouses by German planes and the Bell Rock was attacked on four separate occasions. No one was injured during these attacks, but the lantern was damaged by nine bullets, resulting in 14 broken lantern panes, four lenses and six red shades smashed and damage to the surrounding balcony. Lighthouses became armed; primarily as a defensive measure, rather than as a means to actively engage passing enemy aircraft. Arming of Lighthouses, 1941-1946. NRS, NLC10/3/61, p147
Arming of Lighthouses, 1941-1946. NRS, NLC10/3/61 p148
These attacks led to some lighthouses being armed. All willing lightkeepers became members of the Home Guard and received training on Hotchkiss machine guns. On the Bell Rock, plans were discussed and implemented, installing gun platforms on the Lighthouses’ balcony. The primary purpose of the guns was defensive, rather than as a means to actively engage enemy aircraft.
Placement of machine gun platforms on the Bell Rock Lighthouse, 1941-1946. NRS, NLC10/3/61
Camouflage was also considered. To make lighthouses less visible, in some instances they were painted grey or black. A “SECRET” memo from September 1940, for example, notes that the Bell Rock was painted “a dark colour” and presumably lime washed again when the conflict ended.
Lighthouses are commonly painted white, sometimes with stripes of ‘daymark’ colours, so that they are easily spotted by mariners. During wartime, however, the structures were painted grey or black in an attempt to camouflage them from German attacks. This paint (or distemper) sample shows the colour used to paint and hopefully conceal Noss Head Lighthouse. Camouflaging of Lighthouses, 1940-1945. NRS, NLC10/6/64
The wars also encouraged the installation of modern communication systems. It was hoped that this would allow lightkeepers to quickly warn others of nearby attacks or of emergencies.
Signalling was in place between offshore and onshore stations as a means of communication. These were not, however, always reliable or effective at times of bad weather or in an emergency. The potential benefit of having telephones installed in lighthouses was demonstrated when the grounding of a trawler from Aberdeen occurred and attempts by the observing keepers on the Bell Rock to communicate with the Coastguard failed, as this newspaper article reports. Engineer’s Department, 1917-1940. NRS, NLC11/4/13
Over time, changes were made to the lighthouse and its light. In 1902, the full lighting mechanism was removed, and a new dome and lantern installed. The next major modernisation occurred in 1964 with improvements made again to the light, and the living conditions of the lightkeepers. The Bell Rock remained a manned lighthouse until 1988, when it was fully automated and de-manned on 26 October. Automation of lighthouses in Scotland began as early as 1894. The significant cost of manning the lighthouses, and the advances in technology, accelerated the process from the 1970s onwards. 2023 marked the 25th anniversary since the last lighthouse, Fair Isle South, was automated.
