An Account of the Bell Rock Light-House / Including the Details of the Erection and Peculiar Structure of That Edifice; to Which Is Prefixed a Historical View of the Institution and Progress of the Northern Light-Houses

by Robert Stevenson

INTRODUCTION.

Historical Narrative of the Institution of the Board of Commissioners, and Progress made in the Erection of the Northern Light-houses.

Page
Early Voyages of the Scots. Extension of Trade. Charts of the Coast.		[1]–[4]
1786.	Proposition for the establishment of a Light-house Board in Scotland. Original act passed in 1786. Commissioners appointed. First Meeting of the Board. Mode of raising Funds.	[5]–[6]
1787.	Kinnaird-Head and Mull of Kintyre Light-houses.	[6]–[8]
1788.	Light Duty found to be too small. Act of 1788.	[9]
1789.	Island Glass, North Ronaldsay, and Pladda Light-houses. Collectors of the Light-Duties appointed.	[10]–[11]
1791.	Pladda distinguishing Light. Annual Supply and Inspection of the Light-houses. Light-keepers’ Salary. Economical plan of early Light-houses.	[12]–[14]
1793.	Application for Additional Lights. State of the Light-house Funds.	[14]–[15]
1794.	Pentland Skerry Light-house. Writer’s first Voyage to the North. Loss of the Sloop Elizabeth. Mr Balfour and Mr Riddoch of Orkney presented with Pieces of Plate.	[15]–[17]
	Act Incorporating the Commissioners into a Board or Body Politic. Additional works at the Light-houses already built. Proposition for altering Kinnaird-Head Light-house.	[18]–[19]
1801.	Numerous Shipwrecks on the Island of Sanday. Proofs of a severe winter in Orkney. Quarries at Sanday and Eda. Encroachments of the Sea. Remarks on Ruble Building, and Houses with double walls. Foundation-Stone of Start Point Light-house laid. Reverend Walter Traill’s Address upon this occasion.	[19]–[23]
1803.	Inchkeith Light-house. Originally proposed as a Leading Light. Duty for Inchkeith modified. Light-keepers Accommodations extended. Construction of Light-rooms and Reflectors improved. Inscription upon Inchkeith Light-house. Pilot’s guard-room. Shipwrecked Seamen sheltered.	[24]–[29]
1806.	Start-Point Light exhibited, and North Ronaldsay Light-house converted into a Beacon. List of 22 Shipwrecks on the Island of Sanday, in the course of Twelve Years. Foreman and Artificers lost in the Traveller. Captain Manby’s Apparatus,	[30]–[34]
	Island of May Light-house. Patent ratified 1641; the Duty for that Light complained of after the Union. Family of Scotstarvet become Proprietors. Chamber of Commerce get that Light improved. Portland Family become Proprietors. Loss of the Nymphen and Pallas Frigates. Lord Melville, First Lord of the Admiralty, applies to the Light-house Board, by whom the Duties and Island of May are purchased. Additional apartments provided at the Isle of May. Notice of the alteration of this Light and that of Inchkeith. Pilot’s guard-room.	[36]–[41]
1815.	Corsewall Light-house. Foundation-stone laid. Light exhibited.	[42]–[44]
1818.	Isle of Man Light-houses. Writer’s Report in the year 1802, relative to the erection of Light-houses on the Isle of Man. Trade of Liverpool applies to the Commissioners to erect them. Act of 1815, obtained by Sir W. Rae, with regard to these Lights. Difficulty of fixing their Sites. Lights exhibited 1st February 1818. Sum expended by the Light-house Board, on the East Coast, in the course of 10 years.	[44]–[48]
1821.	Sumburgh-head Light exhibited. This House built with double walls,	[52]
	Carr Rock Beacon. List of 16 vessels wrecked there in the course of nine years. Floating-Buoy moored off this dangerous Reef. Beacon of Masonry designed, with Tide-machine and Bell-apparatus. Dimensions of Carr Rock. Difficulties of this work. It is frequently damaged in Storms. The upper part ultimately completed with cast-iron, without the Alarm-Bell.	[56]–[62]
	Duties exigible. Expence of Management. Accounts of the Light-house Board made public. Application of the Funds, and disposal of the Surplus. Practical Management.	[63]–[64]