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The lighthouse was not originally painted but, by 1814,
Stevenson noticed it was getting so discoloured that from
then on he had it painted on a regular basis.
In 1842, the complete lighting apparatus (reflectors, lamps,
and revolving machinery) was removed and shipped to Newfoundland,
and for years it illuminated Bonavista Lighthouse
until after 1872. The new mechanism in the Bell Rock had
fully equalised light beams. About 1877, paraffin oil replaced
the use of spermaceti oil.
A view of the kitchen in the
tower |
From the time the light was first lit, until Saturday,
April 5, 1890, the Bell Rock had never failed. In 1890,
a tonite-explosive fog signal was installed. Tonite
is a blasting explosive made from guncotton and barium nitrate.
On that particular evening, this explosive went off prematurely,
which considerably damaged the light room. It took until
Sunday, April 13, before the light was repaired and operational
again.
In 1902, the whole of the top part of the lighthouse was
removed and the entire lighting mechanism taken out. The
new dome and lantern were installed and the lighthouse continued
to emit red and white beams from one of the finest lenticular
apparatuses then made. The lenses were equiangular glass
prisms, which had a focal distance of 1330mm. In this mechanism
there was a centrally fixed incandescent paraffin lamp around
which revolved the powerful lenses.
During these alterations, the two fog warning bells, which
were now obsolete, were removed. One of these five hundredweight
bells was gifted to the museum and when the old Arbroath
Museum was given new life and rehoused in the Signal
Tower complex, the fog bell was given pride of place
in the Bell Rock room, where it can still be seen today.
The new light flashed red and white every 60 seconds.
In 1964, the Bell Rock again underwent major alterations.
This modernisation had a dual purpose: to install
a more efficient light mechanism, and to improve the living
conditions of the keepers, as there had been little change
within the tower since it was built.
At this time, the Chicken Rock Lighthouse, a rock-station
off the coast of the Isle of Man built by David and Thomas
Stevenson, was being automated, and the first order, single-flashing
apparatus became available. It was decided to use these
eight beautiful panels of lenses mounted on a twin motor
pedestal as the new Bell Rock light. These lenses revolve
at 2 r.p.m. and show a single white light every three seconds
that could be seen for up to 28 miles. A 3500-watt electric
light bulb, mounted on a lampchanger, with a spare bulb
beside it which would automatically swing into position
should the primary bulb fail, was the source of illumination
and the candle power emitted was 1,900,000. An emergency
light was placed on the lantern dome, operated from standby
batteries, to be used in case of complete failure of the
main light.
The new layout after the 1964
alteration |
Electrical generators were installed to provide power
for the light and also for domestic needs. Twin 10.5 KVA
diesel generators were set up in one apartment, with
a 5 KVA unit, known affectionately as “Wee Knockie”, on
the floor above.
To alleviate the problems of supplying the Bell Rock with
fuel and water, etc., especially in winter, it was
decided to excavate into the solid sandstone base of the
lighthouse to provide a 1,100-gallon tank for fuel oil.
This was in addition to the purpose built tanks, fitted
to the outside of the cast-iron murette, which held 1200
gallons. This was enough to last 7 or even 8 months. Storage
of fresh water was increased from 260 gallons to
690 gallons using storage tanks in the lightroom and a tank
in the storeroom below. A salt-water evaporator was
also installed but in practice it was found to use too much
fuel, and it was used only in an emergency.
The fog signals were also changed, as the Tonite system
was now obsolete. Three tyfon devices were installed
round the lower lantern walkway. This mechanism uses compressed
air to produce sound on a resonator. It is electrically
operated and gives a single blast two seconds long every
minute. The rooms in the lighthouse were switched round
and the order from top to bottom was as follows: The Light-room;
Control-room; Living room; Bedrooms; Store Room; Upper Engine
Room; Lower Engine Room; Access Shaft; Entrance. The living-room/kitchen
was moved to immediately below the old light-room and, instead
of using coal as fuel, cooking was now done by gas. The
old light-room had the optical apparatus installed in its
upper level, and the sophisticated radio controlled machinery
was installed immediately below the light mechanism.
The Bell Rock acted as a coastal weather recording station
for the Meteorological Office, making hourly weather reports
to Leuchars. Recently this has been taken over by St Abb’s
Lighthouse. Eventually, in the control room, an exercise
bicycle was added to allow the keepers some healthy exercise
as you couldn’t walk far on the Rock. The bedrooms were
completely refurbished with three bunks in tiers, each in
its own tiny compartment. Electric power brought television,
which was a great bonus to keepers living in such isolation.
The original stone spiral staircase leading up to the first
room was also taken out. This allowed the construction of
an additional half-floor where a salt-water toilet was installed.
The Bell Rock lighthouse still uses the system of gratings
round the rock surface to provide level walkways. In 1975
a helipad was constructed although it can only be
used at low water and is always dependent on the wind and
weather being suitable. Radar beacons (or Racons) were installed.
Continuing the tradition of keeping abreast of innovative
technology, the Bell Rock has once again gone through a
period of major change. This oldest existing rock lighthouse
in Britain has become fully automatic. During early
summer of 1987 the complete light mechanism was once again
removed. In July of that year the Bell Rock was lit by a
temporary light, whilst the new light mechanism was being
installed.
The lighthouse was de-manned on the 26th October
1988. A Dalen optic was installed, replacing the existing
electric light of 1964. This type of light, named after
its Swedish inventor, uses pressure from dissolved acetylene
gas to revolve the lens before passing to a mantle type
of burner. The flash is white - every 5 seconds - and has
a nominal range of 18 miles. Remote electronic monitoring
takes place from the Northern Lighthouse Board Headquarters
in Edinburgh via Fifeness Lighthouse. Maintenance is carried
out annually. There are no fog signals at the Bell Rock
now, and radar beacons (Racons) continue to be used. These
are triggered by radar on vessels, giving a range and bearing
from the lighthouse which is displayed on the ships’ or
boats’ radar screen. This type of signal is vastly superior
to what had gone before, as it is totally unaffected by
weather conditions.
At the end of 1999 a new round of changes began at the
Bell. This refurbishment means that the Bell, in effect,
is now eco-friendly. The light, once powered by acetylene
gas, has been removed and the optic is now powered from
batteries charged by solar panels, helped along during the
long winter months by generators. The work started by installing
new batteries in the battery room; followed by the re-installation
of new generators. It is interesting to note, that when
the light was de-manned, the generator sets were removed
and the room they occupied was converted to a gas room which
was used to house the acetylene cylinders (which in turn
powered the optic). The present arrangement removed the
gas cylinders, and the room has been converted back to an
engine room, which now houses two 10kW generators. As they
say: Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. (The
more things change the more they remain the same).
For a full update of the latest changes at the Bell
Rock - see Automation
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