Girdle Ness Lighthouse.
Girdle Ness Lighthouse was engineered by Robert Stevenson (1772-1850), and completed in 1833. Height: 37 m., built by James Gibb, an Aberdeen contractor. The need for it was urgently felt after the wreck of the whaling ship Oscar in 1813, when 43 of the 45 men on board perished (Munro 87). The lighthouse stands at an elevation of 56 m. and its flashing lights have a range of 22 miles. "The light had a new form of double light, showing two distinct lights from the same tower, one above the other, both fixed. The lower light consisted of 13 lamps and reflectors arranged like a garland in a glazed gallery built round the outside of the tower about one third of the way up" ("Girdle Ness"). The lighthouse is located on Girdle Ness Peninsula, by the south entrance to Aberdeen Harbour.
Like others of its kind, Girdle Ness lighthouse is picturesque — indeed, it is the one that features on the front cover of Robert Munro's book on Scottish lighthouses. Its details too are impressive: Munro mentions the "corbelling on both balconies and fine brasswork" (89). The former can be seen in the photograph, and is especially attractive.
Torry Coo Foghorn nearby, no longer in use.
Changes took place even in the Victorian period. "The lower light was discontinued in 1890. The main light was altered in 1847 and the old lantern which was too small, was transferred to Inchkeith" ("Girdle Ness"). The original foghorn was replaced in 1902 by the one shown on the right here, which itself is no longer in use.
Photographs by Tim Willasey-Wilsey, text and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee. You may use these images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one. [Click on the image to enlarge it.]
Bibliography
"Girdle Ness." Northern Lighthouse Board. Web. 25 August 2025.
Munro, Robert William.Scottish Lighthouses. Stornoway, Lewes: Thule Press, 1979.
Strachan, Michael A.W. Scottish Lighthouses: An Illustrated History. Stroud, Glos.: Amberley Publishing, 2016.
Created 25 August 2024