We have spoken of a lighthouse erected on North Ronaldshay in 1789. An experience of twelve years showed that its position had been unfortunately selected, and that it by no means assisted the mariner in navigating the difficult straits of the Orkney archipelago. Every winter ships were cast away, and precious lives were lost, on the islands of Stronsay and Sanday, though the latter is only eight miles distant from North Ronaldshay. In 1796 three homeward-bound vessels were lost on this fatal island, and eight more in the next three years. It was therefore resolved, in 1801, that a beacon, or tower of masonry, should be erected upon the Start Point, or eastern extremity of the low shores of the island of Sanday; and erected in such a manner that, if found necessary, it might be converted into a lighthouse.
In 1802 Mr. Stevenson sailed on his annual voyage of inspection to the Northern Lighthouses, carrying with him a foreman and sixteen artificers to commence the works on Start Point. It was the month of April, but, even at this advanced period of the season, the Orkney Islands were found covered to the depth of six inches with snow. Operations were commenced, however, without a day’s delay: a sandstone quarry was opened on the adjacent island of Edda; and by the middle of May sufficient materials were collected for the commencement of the edifice. The foundation-stone was laid, with masonic ceremonies, on the 15th of May, when an address was delivered by Mr. Traill, the minister of the parish, some portions of which may be preserved in these pages:—
“The moment is auspicious. The foundation-stone is laid of a building of incalculable value;—a work of use, not of luxury. Pyramids were erected by the pride of kings to perpetuate the memory of men whose ambition enslaved and desolated the world. But it is the benevolent intention of our Government on this spot to erect a tower—not to exhaust, but—to increase the wealth and protect the commerce of this happy kingdom....
“Consider the great national objects for which this building will be erected. To protect commerce, and to guard the lives of those intrepid men who for us cheerfully brave the fury of the waves and the rage of the battle. The mariner, when he returns to the embraces of his wife and children, after ascribing praise to the great Giver of safety, shall bless the friendly light which guided him over the deep, and recommend to the protection of Heaven those who urged, who planned, and who executed the work. This day shall be remembered with gratitude. It shall be recorded that, at the beginning of a new century, the pious care of Government was extended to this remote island. These rocks, so fatal to the most brave and honourable part of the community, shall lose their terror, and safety and life shall spring from danger and death.”[32]
By steadily prosecuting the works throughout the summer, they were brought to a fortunate completion in the month of September. The beacon rose to a height of 100 feet, and terminated with a massive ball of masonry, measuring fifteen feet in circumference.
It was found, however, that the construction of this beacon did not prevent the occurrence of frequent wrecks upon the island. It was proverbial with its inhabitants to observe, that if wrecks were to happen, they might as well be sent to the poor island of Sanday as anywhere else. In fact, the inhabitants of this and the neighbouring islands lived upon the proceeds of their wreckage, and melancholy remains of many a “tall ship” met the eye in every direction.
For example, says Mr. Stevenson, although quarries are to be generally met with in these islands, and the stones are very suitable for building dykes, yet instances occur of the land being enclosed, even to a considerable extent, with ship-timbers. A park[33] might be seen paled round, chiefly with cedar-wood and mahogany from the wreck of a Honduras-built ship;[34] and in one island, after the loss of a ship laden with wine, the inhabitants took claret to their barley-meal porridge, instead of their usual beverage. When Mr. Stevenson complained to one of the pilots of the badness of his boat’s sails, he replied, with grim humour, “Had it been God’s will that you came na here wi’ these lights, we might a’ had better sails to our boats, and more o’ other things.” A much higher rent was given for the farms than they were absolutely worth, in consideration of the profits that would probably accrue from wrecks on their respective shores.
Under these circumstances it was deemed advisable to convert the North Ronaldshay lighthouse into a beacon, and the Start Point beacon into a lighthouse, both transformations being successfully effected in the course of the year 1805; and the light exhibited on Start Point, January 1st, 1806.