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Home Page
. . . introduction, search facility, news and acknowledgements

Vital Statistics
. . . a comprehensive list of the main features of the Lighthouse
Description of the Rock
. . . historical background to the Bell Rock
Marking the Spot
. . . surveys of the Rock and run-up to the Works
1807
. . . progress of the Works during 1807
1808
. . . progress of the Works during 1808
1809
. . . progress of the Works during 1809
1810 (May – mid-July)
. . . progress during the first half of 1810
1810 (end-July - December)
. . . completion of the Lighthouse
1811 to 1823
. . . events during the early years of the Lighthouse’s existence
Construction Techniques
. . . dovetailing, joggles, trenails, wedges, walls, ceilings and cement
The Lightroom of 1811
. . . more about reflectors, illuminants and winding mechanism
Masonry Courses
. . . details of the various courses of the Lighthouse
Railways of the Bell Rock
. . . map and specifications of the railways
Signal Tower/Shore Base
. . . the shore base for the Lighthouse
Machinery, Equipment and Inventory
. . . the “nuts and bolts” of building a lighthouse
Keeping up with New Technology
. . . a chronological list of events through to the 1990s
Automation at the Bell Rock
. . . the most recent changes at the Rock
Accidents, Attacks and Shipwrecks
. . . various events over the years

Introduction
. . . a Family of Engineers
Who Built the Bell Rock Lighthouse?
. . . an on-going controversy
Stevenson v. North Carr Rocks
. . . Stevenson's fight with the North Carr rocks
Robert Louis Stevenson
. . . early involvement with the lighthouse business
RLS, Erraid and Dubh Artach
. . . Robert Louis’s links with a remote lighthouse
Instrument Makers and the Northern Lights
. . . an account of the development of early lighthouse optics in Scotland
Smith, Thomas (1752-1815)
. . . first Engineer to the NLB
Stevenson, Robert (1772-1850)
. . . builder of the Bell Rock
Stevenson, Alan (1807-1865)
. . . builds Skerryvore - the world’s most perfect lighthouse
Stevenson, David (1815-1886)
. . . builder of Muckle Flugga
Stevenson, Thomas (1818-1887)
. . . father of RLS and builder of Dubh Artach
Stevenson, David A. (1854-1938)
. . . longest serving Engineer to the NLB
Stevenson, Charles (1855-1950)
. . . last of the family’s Engineers to the NLB
Stevenson, D. Alan (1891-1971)
. . . world’s authority on lighthouses
Stevenson, Dorothy Emily (1882-1973)
. . . the family’s only fictional author

A Biographical Sketch
. . . early beginnings and review of his service with the NLB
King George IV's Visit to Scotland
. . . first visit by a reigning monarch since 1650
The Forth and Clyde Canal
. . . shortcut between East and West Scotland
Capt Taylor’s Retiral and Death
. . . letter of resignation and farewell to the lighthouse service

The Builders
. . . detailed listing of the Builders and key personnel
Seamen and Vessels
. . . ships involved with the construction and their crews
Lighthouse Keepers
. . . list of keepers from 1837 to the 1950s

Other People in Stevenson’s “Account”
. . . individuals not actually involved in the Work

The Map “deciphered”
. . . a list and description of all names on the Rock
      - Interactive version


Historical Background
. . . from the Romans to the Stone of Destiny
Arbroath and its Abbey
. . . early beginnings and the Abbey
Declaration of Arbroath
. . . Scotland’s Declaration of Independence in 1320
Stone of Destiny
. . . background of an historical event
Sir Walter Scott and “The Antiquary”
. . . Scott's favourite. and the Arbroath connection
The Smokie
. . . Arbroath's second gift to the world


Bicentennial - 2011
Forthcoming developments for the Bell's 200th Birthday.
Visiting the Rock
. . . a warning to those who would like to visit the Bell Rock
Underwater Life at the Bell Rock
Flora and fauna around the reef at the Bell Rock.
The "Inchcape Rock" by Robert Southey
. . . a story about an irresponsible seafarer
Light-keepers' duties in 1823
. . . instructions for the Bell Rock Light-keepers and the Schedule of Daily Rations per man in service at the Bell Rock
The Bell Rock Lighthouse Prayer
. . . composed in 1807 by the Rev. Dr Alexander Brunton of Edinburgh
Sir Joseph Banks and “Mutiny on the Bounty”
. . . links to the world’s most famous mutiny
Sir Walter Scott’s visit – the “Pharos Loquitur”
. . . his only visit and the verse he wrote when there
“The Year Without a Summer”
. . . how volcanoes affect the world’s weather
"Death of HMS Argyll"
. . . an in-depth account of the sinking of the HMS Argyll
Pharos Experience
. . . a personal trip on the "Pharos" in 1982
Preparing for Automation
. . . a selection of photos taken by Alan Provan in 1988-89
"A Quiet Night In"
. . . a typical lighthouse shift by Charlie Riding
"Outdoor Excusions"
. . . more experiences by Charlie Riding
North Carr Lightships
. . . story of the efforts to mark the North Carr rocks
Links
. . . Lighthouse : Maritime : Arbroath : Stevenson : Miscellaneous


Guestbook
. . . current guestbook
Guestbook Archive
. . . archive of the old guestbook


Sitemap
. . . this page
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