Rubh Reidh (Rua Reidh, Rubha Reidh, Rubh' Re)
Chance Brothers Lighthouse
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Date of lens manufacture
1909
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Date of lighthouse construction
1912
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Country
United Kingdom
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Commissioning body
Northern Lighthouse Board
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Order of lens
Hyper-radial
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Fixed or revolving lens
Revolving
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Active/Inactive
Active
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Describe the character of light
FL W(4) 15s 37 m 24 Nm
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Describe the lighthouses daymarks
White 25m tower with black dome above light
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Which aspects of the lighthouse (other than the lens) were manufactured by Chance brothers
None known
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Describe the history of the lighthouse
The light was established in 1912 and engineered by David A Stevenson. It is situated on the prominent headland of the Ross-shire coast.
The building of a navigation light on Rubh’Re Point was first proposed by David Stevenson in 1853 but the Board of Trade refused to approve the proposed expenditure of £5,000.
In August 1906, David Alan Stevenson recommended that a navigation light be established on the prominent headland of the Ross-shire coast 17 miles north of the Rona light and 26 miles south of the Stoer Head light. He considered the lighting of this very remote site important, and so suggested a powerful light and a fully manned “Island Station”. Accordingly, the Commissioners made representation to Trinity House but they refused to accord their statutory approval to the proposed seamark but did, however, suggest a small, inexpensive unmanned light be established in the same position.
The Commissioners considered that the site was too important to leave unattended and felt bound to adhere to their original proposal.
After lengthy correspondence, Trinity House conceded to the Commissioners views, and gave statutory approval to the erection of a manned light. The Board of Trade however, decided to defer commencement of work meantime, as they considered the financial outlay excessive.
Finally, in May 1908, the Board of Trade sanctioned the expenditure of £14,900 on the establishment of a light and fog signal on Rubh’Re point and the light was first exhibited on the night of 15 January 1912. It is situated at the entrance to Loch Ewe near Gairloch.
In 1944, an American Liberty Ship the“William H Welch” missed the entrance to Loch Ewe and went ashore at Black Bay during a severe storm. Two Rubh’Re Lightkeepers were actively involved in the rescue of 15 survivors out of a complement of 74.
The fog signal service was installed in 1912 and withdrawn in September 1980. The foghorn and clockwork mechanism are now in the Gairloch Heritage Museum along with the lens and lighting equipment which was removed in 1985 prior to automation of the Station in 1986.
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Current management body/ ports authority
Northern Lighthouse Board
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Historical preservation societies/manager/operator
Gairloch Museum, Gairloch, Ross-shire, IV21 2BH - currently houses the Chance Brothers Lens
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Is the site vulnerable to coastal erosion?
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Have you experienced any affects of climate change on the lighthouse?
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Observations on the condition of the lighthouse?
Operational and maintained - looks in good condition on photgraphs.
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Is the site open/closed to the public
Open
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Is the tower open/closed to the public
Closed
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Latitude and Longitude
57°51.527'N 005°48.713'W
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On-site bookable accommodation available
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Associated web addresses
- https://www.nlb.org.uk/lighthouses/rubh-reidh/
- https://www.gairlochmuseum.org/museum
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/267701/rubha-reidh-lighthouse
- https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NG7391
- https://stayatalighthouse.co.uk
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperradiant_Fresnel_lens
- https://www.ibiblio.org/lighthouse/sctnw.htm
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Other details
ARLHS SCO-191; Admiralty A3900; NGA 3640.
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Which resources did you use to research this lighthouses?
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Inactive Chance Lens
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When was the lens deactivated?
1985 - removed and given to Gairloch Museum, Gairloch, Ross-shire, IV21 2BH
Unde?
