Life in Newburgh on Ythan

By Talpa

A windy spot.

Another day, another lighthouse. This is the old light house at Kinnaird Head, Fraserburgh where the fastest sea level gust of wind ever recorded in the UK, 142 mph, was measured during the storm of 13th February 1989.

Kinnaird Head was the first Lighthouse built in Scotland by the Commissioners of Northern Lights (founded in 1786). The original light was established on 1 December 1787 by Mr Thomas Smith of Edinburgh, who was the father-in-law of Robert Stevenson who succeeded him as Engineer to the Northern Lighthouse Board. Robert Stevenson was grandfather of Robert Louis Stevenson. A lantern was set at a height of 120 feet above the sea on a corner of an old castle owned by Lord Saltoun. In clear weather the fixed light, fuelled by burning whale oil, could be seen 12 or 14 miles off.

The light operated in that position until 1824 when internal alternations were made to the tower to accommodate a new lantern and additional buildings were constructed for the Lightkeepers. The present light stands within the framework of the original tower.

In 1991 the lighthouse was closed and replaced by a new automatic light which stands nearby. The original lighthouse is now home to The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses.

The forest of vertical posts were once used to dry fishing nets.

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