Muckle Flugga lighthouse punctuates the rocky stack of Muckle Flugga, in Shetland, Scotland. Originally called North Unst Lighthouse, it was renamed in 1964.[1][2]
The brothers Thomas and David Stevenson designed and built the lighthouse in 1854, originally to protect ships during the Crimean War. First lit on 1 January 1858, it stands 64 feet (20 m) high, has 103 steps to the top, and is Britain's most northerly lighthouse. The light beam flashes white every 20 seconds, with a nominal range of 22 nautical miles (41km). In March 1995 it was fully automated.[3] Thomas's son Robert Louis Stevenson, the writer, visited it as a young man. As a result, Unst became his inspiration for the map of "Treasure Island". The lighthouse was served by the Grace Darling which was launched from the boat house below the lighthouse shore station in Burrafirth. Supplies were winched up by the blondin cable hoist to the courtyard, from the boat in a natural cleft of the rocks that provides a degree of harbourage.
This lighthouse was also used as a setting for the wartime comedy Back-Room Boy.
In 1851 it was decided to build a lighthouse on north Unst but, because of difficulties in determining the exact location, nothing had been done by the start of 1854. During the Crimean War, the government urged the commissioners to set up a light on Muckle Flugga to protect Her Majesty's ships. A temporary lighthouse 50 feet (15 m) high was built 200 feet (61 m) above sea level and lit on 11 October 1854. It was thought to be high and safe enough to withstand the elements, but when winter storms began waves broke heavily on the tower and burst open the door to the living quarters. The principal keeper reported that 40 feet (12 m) of stone dyke had been broken down, and the keepers had no dry place to sit or sleep. Plans were made for a higher and more permanent lighthouse, but there were still disagreements about where to locate it, Muckle Flugga or Lamba Ness. The orders to start the work on the new Muckle Flugga tower were finally given in June 1855. The lighthouse's original name was "North Unst", but in 1964 that was changed to "Muckle Flugga".[3][4]
Muckle Flugga was one of the few lighthouses in Scotland which had a separate shore station that served as accommodation for the lighthouse keepers when they were off duty (similar to Sule Skerry and its shore station in Stromness, Orkney). The shore station was sold off when the lighthouse was automated. Part of the building now hosts the Hermaness Visitor Centre at the entrance to the neighbouring Hermaness National Nature Reserve, which is managed by NatureScot.
Lynn, P.A. (2017). Scottish Lighthouse Pioneers: Travels with the Stevensons in Orkney and Shetland. Whittles Publishing. ISBN978-1-84995-265-1. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
McNeil, Robert (21 May 2023). "and its lighthouse that's like no other …". The Herald.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Muckle Flugga Lighthouse.
Muckle Flugga Lighthouse
Northern Lighthouse Board
April 12, 2024
muckle, flugga, lighthouse, muckle, flugga, lighthouse, punctuates, rocky, stack, muckle, flugga, shetland, scotland, originally, called, north, unst, lighthouse, renamed, 1964, locationmuckle, flugga, shetland, unst, united, kingdomcoordinates60, 855273, 8852. Muckle Flugga lighthouse punctuates the rocky stack of Muckle Flugga in Shetland Scotland Originally called North Unst Lighthouse it was renamed in 1964 1 2 Muckle Flugga LighthouseMuckle Flugga LighthouseLocationMuckle Flugga Shetland Unst United KingdomCoordinates60 51 19 N 0 53 07 W 60 855273 N 0 885262 W 60 855273 0 885262TowerDesigned byThomas Stevenson David Stevenson Constructionmasonry AutomatedMarch 1995 Height20 m 66 ft Shapecylinder Markingswhite tower black lantern ochre trim OperatorNorthern Lighthouse Board Heritagecategory A listed building LightFirst lit1 January 1858 Focal height66 m 217 ft Range22 nmi 41 km 25 mi CharacteristicFl 2 W 20s The brothers Thomas and David Stevenson designed and built the lighthouse in 1854 originally to protect ships during the Crimean War First lit on 1 January 1858 it stands 64 feet 20 m high has 103 steps to the top and is Britain s most northerly lighthouse The light beam flashes white every 20 seconds with a nominal range of 22 nautical miles 41km In March 1995 it was fully automated 3 Thomas s son Robert Louis Stevenson the writer visited it as a young man As a result Unst became his inspiration for the map of Treasure Island The lighthouse was served by the Grace Darling which was launched from the boat house below the lighthouse shore station in Burrafirth Supplies were winched up by the blondin cable hoist to the courtyard from the boat in a natural cleft of the rocks that provides a degree of harbourage This lighthouse was also used as a setting for the wartime comedy Back Room Boy Contents 1 History 2 Lighthouse keepers 3 Muckle Flugga Shore Station 4 See also 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksHistory editIn 1851 it was decided to build a lighthouse on north Unst but because of difficulties in determining the exact location nothing had been done by the start of 1854 During the Crimean War the government urged the commissioners to set up a light on Muckle Flugga to protect Her Majesty s ships A temporary lighthouse 50 feet 15 m high was built 200 feet 61 m above sea level and lit on 11 October 1854 It was thought to be high and safe enough to withstand the elements but when winter storms began waves broke heavily on the tower and burst open the door to the living quarters The principal keeper reported that 40 feet 12 m of stone dyke had been broken down and the keepers had no dry place to sit or sleep Plans were made for a higher and more permanent lighthouse but there were still disagreements about where to locate it Muckle Flugga or Lamba Ness The orders to start the work on the new Muckle Flugga tower were finally given in June 1855 The lighthouse s original name was North Unst but in 1964 that was changed to Muckle Flugga 3 4 Lighthouse keepers editRussell Powell 1977 1990 5 Thomas J M Hutchison 1949 1962 5 Muckle Flugga Shore Station editMuckle Flugga was one of the few lighthouses in Scotland which had a separate shore station that served as accommodation for the lighthouse keepers when they were off duty similar to Sule Skerry and its shore station in Stromness Orkney The shore station was sold off when the lighthouse was automated Part of the building now hosts the Hermaness Visitor Centre at the entrance to the neighbouring Hermaness National Nature Reserve which is managed by NatureScot See also edit nbsp Scotland portal nbsp Engineering portalList of lighthouses in Scotland List of Northern Lighthouse Board lighthouses List of Category A listed buildings in ShetlandReferences edit Rowlett Russ Lighthouses of Scotland Shetland The Lighthouse Directory University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Retrieved 29 May 2016 Muckle Flugga Northern Lighthouse Board Retrieved 29 May 2016 a b Muckle Flugga History Shetlopedia The Shetland Encyclopedia a b Muckle Flugga The Impossible Lighthouse p 9 Bibliography editHughson Rhoda 2008 Muckle Flugga The Impossible Lighthouse Unst Heritage Trust Lynn P A 2017 Scottish Lighthouse Pioneers Travels with the Stevensons in Orkney and Shetland Whittles Publishing ISBN 978 1 84995 265 1 Retrieved 22 January 2024 McNeil Robert 21 May 2023 and its lighthouse that s like no other The Herald External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Muckle Flugga Lighthouse Muckle Flugga Lighthouse Northern Lighthouse Board Lighthouse Explorer Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Muckle Flugga Lighthouse amp oldid 1203127662, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
