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The Butt of Lewis Lighthouse

In June 1859, the quotation submitted by John Barr & Co of Ardrossan, amounting to £4,900 ("….dwelling house in brick and with lead roofs considered to be indispensable in view of the remoteness and exposure of the situation…..") was accepted.

Records suggest that it was quite late into the year before Barr’s could get their plant forwarded to the island, and that the vessel containing part of the contractor's property was wrecked while attempting to land its cargo. This resulted in the masonry works being postponed until the Spring of 1860. The commissioners visited the Butt on 23 July 1860 and found, "……work not so far advanced as had been anticipated." Later, on 24 March 1862, the Department of Trade were informed that the "…..works at Butt of Lewis are so far advanced that the Commissioners expect it to be lighted in the Autumn."

The Lighthouse Tower:
The tower, which is 37 metres in height and designated as a ‘listed’ building, was not just a welcome sight for passing ships but also latterly acted as a highly sophisticated data-gathering centre. Up until automation (March 1998) the keepers recorded detailed weather data every hour for onward transmission to the Meteorological Office. The data included wind direction and speed, temperatures, cloud types and heights. This would then be analysed by the Meteorological Office as part of the national weather forecasting system.

The original specifications for the bricks used for the building work stated that they had to be, "….similar to those used in the Edinburgh Gas Works chimney instead of common brick." When the Department of Trade asked for clarification, they received the following response: "Brick [normally] specified is the ordinary brick used for exposed places such as chimneys and is in all respects identical with what has been approved of in the whole of the lighthouse works which have been lately executed, including Corran, Phladda, McArthur's Head and St Abb's Head, all sanctioned last year and now in operation. Common brick in such a situation as the Butt of Lewis would be wholly inadmissible and would not stand the exposure to the sea.

The reference to the Gas Works Chimney in Edinburgh is contained in the specification of all the works alluded to - it was originally for the information of the Contractors in making up their offers as an example of what is wanted."

The reference to the Gas Works Chimney in Edinburgh is contained in the specification of all the works alluded to - it was originally for the information of the Contractors in making up their offers as an example of what is wanted."

The reference to the Gas Works Chimney in Edinburgh is contained in the specification of all the works alluded to - it was originally for the information of the Contractors in making up their offers as an example of what is wanted."

During construction the individual who had been engaged to build the tower’s 168 concrete spiral steps went on strike in demand of a penny a day increase in wages. His employers were forced to largely meet his conditions because this work was very specialised and it would have been very difficult and costly for them to replace him

Lighting:
The lighthouse was first lit in 1862 - following protracted negotiations between the Lighthouse Board and staff at the Board of Trade over whether the light should be fixed or flashing. The Stevensons’ and the Commissioners favoured a flashing light but were over-ruled by the Department of Trade, who insisted on: "…..a fixed light of the first order."

On 21 March 1859 Stevenson reported to the Commissioners: "Keeping in view the prominent position of the Butt of Lewis as a great sealight and the necessary distinction from the neighbouring lights existing and determined on, we have no hesitation in recommending that it has been estimated accordingly. A fixed light in such an outlying situation should for optical reasons be avoided if it be at all possible and there does not seem any call for adopting a fixed light at the Butt of Lewis."

The Commissioners subsequently notified Trinity House (the Board’s headquarters) on 24 March 1859 that the, "Commissioners are of the opinion that the light should be a flashing white light of the first order, so as to distinguish it from Cape Wrath, which is alternate red and white and from Stour Head which the Commissioners mean to propose should be fixed .... The adoption of a fixed light at such a station as Butt of Lewis could in the present day only be justified on some very special ground." The Department of Trade’s judgement prevailed and a fixed light was installed.

On 8 March 1903 the staff at the Butt of Lewis were informed that the ‘character and measure of the power of the light’ at the Butt would be changed in May of that year. While the work was in progress a temporary light (of the same character as the present light, although of lesser intensity) was put into operation: "The permanent light, when altered, will be flashing white, showing a flash every 20 seconds with a power of about 375,000 candles, and will be visible over the same bearings as the present light."

Until recently the light source itself was fixed and sat inside a large lens (in effect a giant magnifying glass). The lens revolved around the light, thus giving the familiar flashing effect. The lens itself was driven by a giant clockwork motor which the keeper on duty had to wind by hand every half-hour or so during the hours of darkness. Automation finally ended this practice

Foghorn:
The original foghorn was operated by compressed air and was decommissioned and demolished in the early 1980s.  Many local residents still mourn the familiar, booming, sound of the old horn.  Its modern, electrically powered, replacement is more highly pitched  and described by the Board as being more 'effective'.

Supplies:
Up until the early 1960s the Butt of Lewis lighthouse was supplied by sea. When the lighthouse was built in the 1860s, there were no easy methods of transporting supplies within the island of Lewis due to the poor road system which existed at that time. Consequently, fuel and supplies for the facility had to be transported by sea from mainland depots.

Port Stoth:
About 400 yards from the lighthouse is a small bay, known as Stoth (pronounced ‘stow’). Here small cargo vessels would regularly berth, weather permitting, to discharge fuel and provisions for the lighthouse station. All that remains today of this docking area is some timber and metal steps, the concrete base on which the crane was mounted, and a red-brick building (the same brick as the lighthouse) which was used as a store by the Board