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| Far away you can just make out the Skerryvore Lighthouse and, to the right, waves breaking on the reef |
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| The signal tower – the means of communicating with the lighthouse |
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| Lighthousemen’s houses at Hynish |
This weekend on Tiree our digs were in one of the buildings that used to make up the settlement that built and supported the Skerryvore Lighthouse.
Skerryvore was built on a deadly lump of reef some 10 miles from Tiree by Alan Stevenson (uncle of Robert Louis).
The place and an excellent exhibition got us thinking about lighthouse people. Imagine being stuck on a rock in the middle of the ocean keeping the lamp burning through the night. The only contact with the outside world being semaphore messages to the signal tower.
The Panther reckons that would have been his ideal job if there was still call for lighthouse people. I’m not so sure. The peace and quiet would be lovely – and there really wouldn’t be any excuse for not getting deadlines met – but I think I’d feel very trapped. What do you think?
I am passionate about lighthouses, but I realise a week living on an offshore one would be enough for me. My favourite one is Oigh Sgier (Hyskeir) off Canna. I used to watch its light from my childhood home on Eigg. Each lighthouse has a unique signal, and Oigh Sgeir flashes three white lights every 30 seconds. The lighthouse keepers had a two hole golf course on the tidal strip between two narrow pieces of rock on which it is built. You have to admire the creativity of humans in overcoming boredom and isolation.
I too am fascinated by lighthouses and often re read parts of Bella Bathurst’s book ‘The lighthouse Stephensons’. Your story sounds so picturesque and beautiful . I have only scene Eigg and Canna from a distance . I would love to climb up just one lighthouse tower. Our own small lighthouse here in the south of Morecambe bay is the Plover Scar light house which I have walked to at low tide and which nearly came a cropper three years ago when a vessel heading for the port of Lancaster struck the light with considerable force necessitating a painstaking and costly rebuild. The port of Lancaster authority fulfilled it’s stated obligation to maintain the light and met the cost. This beautiful lighthouse is now restored to its former glory.
It's a romantic notion to be isolated on a rock in the middle of the sea with nothing to do but be inspired to think creative thoughts, but I think I'd miss having space to walk in.
It would have been ok if you could have had a computer, internet access, and a blog.
Did you hear about this?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2013/mar/26/lighthouses-foghorns-newcastle-tyneside-southshields-music
It would be blissful for a day or so, then I think I'd feel trapped.