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HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS COMMISSION
From The
Scotsman 07/10/1890
The Highlands and Islands
Commissioners held an inquiry at Lerwick yesterday – Mr Wolfe Barry presiding.
The sitting was held in the Lerwick Court-house, and was attended by a large
number of the public………..
The Question of lights for
the west side of Shetland was spoken to by Captain ROBERT NISBET, of the steamer
St Magnus, and Captain WILLIAM NICOLSON, of the steamer Earl of Zetland. The
most important light required, it was stated, was one to guide to the entrance
of Scalloway harbour, which in winter is very dangerous of approach. Lights
were also recommended for the dangerous reef known as Vee Skerries, on the
north-west coast, and on the south end of the island of Foula.
INTERVIEW WITH THE
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND
From The Scotsman
12/05/1892
With regard to lights, a
great deal has been done already in the way of putting up new lights. Of course
there is only a certain sum at the disposal of the Government for this purpose,
but additional lights are to be put up in Shetland this year, and one also by
Government grant in the Orkneys. There will be a light at Foula, and there are
two first-class lighthouses on Fair Island. You will,
therefore, see that the lighting of the north coast of Scotland is not being
neglected by the Government.
LIGHTHOUSE
WANTED ON FOULA
From The
Scotsman 17/08/1938
Shetland County Council are
to make representations to Major Neven-Spence, M.P., and the Northern Lighthouse
Commissioners to erect a lighthouse on Foula owing to the island’s isolation and
dangerous coast line.
FOULA LIGHTHOUSE
PLEA
From The Scotsman 22/02/1939
Largely-signed petitions
from Foula and from fishermen on Burra Isle were read at Zetland County Council
meeting asking for a lighthouse for the island of Foula. The Foula petitioners
referred to the many wrecks that had occurred round the dangerous coast.
The Council agreed, in the
interests of fishing vessels and shipping generally, to make representations for
a lighthouse at Foula to the Northern Lighthouse Commissioners, Major Neven-Spence,
M.P., and the Secretary of State for Scotland.
NO LIGHTHOUSE FOR
FOULA
From The Scotsman 20/04/1939
The Northern Lighthouse
Commissioners have informed Major B. H. H. Neven-Spence, M.P. for Orkney and
Shetland, that, in their opinion, a lighthouse on Foula is not required in the
interests of general navigation, and that they therefore regret that they cannot
see their way to accede to the proposal to establish a light on the island.
NORTHERN LIGHTHOUSE BOARD
Foula Lighthouse.
Light Established 1986. Position Latitude 60° 06.8’N,
Longitude 02° 03.7’W. Character Flashing (3) White every 15
Seconds. Elevation 36 metres. Nominal Range
18 miles. Structure White tower.
History Foula was built as a gas powered major light (range > 15 miles) in
1986. It was never a manned station as it was built during the automation
programme as an automatic light. The decision to establish a light on Foula was
as a direct result of the increase in oil tanker traffic using the west coast
route. Other lights established at this time were Point of Fethaland, Yell Sound
and North Rona. The conversion from acetylene gas to the highly cost effective
solar/wind electric operation will mean lower maintenance, an environmentally
friendly system which will also provide a higher level of reliability. Work
commenced in Summer 1999 with the laying of the concrete plinth for the
construction of a new GRP (glass reinforced plastic) building which contains the
control room and battery room. The original 4th order lens has been retained
having been suitably modified to accommodate 35 watt metal halide lamps in a 3
position changer. The rotation of the lens is by a gearless drive and control is
by Programmable Logic Controllers and associated switch gear. The monitoring of
the light to the Board's headquarters in Edinburgh is by PSTN. The power system
now consist of 36 solar modules charging 2500 AH, 24 volt battery, this is
supplemented by four small vertical axis wind generators. All works associated
with the solarisation of Foula lighthouse should be complete by 31 March 2000.
Shetland General Building Contractor James J Johnson of Bixter carried out all
concrete works and erected the solar panel framework. Jimmy Johnson has carried
out work for the Northern Lighthouse Board since 1967 and was also involved in
the works associated with Fair Isle South Lighthouse - Scotland's last manned
Lighthouse automated 31 March 1998. Orkney electrical contractors R S Merriman
carried out the electrical installation.
Foula men laying the main concrete base for the Lighthouse
Solar Panels
powering the Lighthouse
FOULA LIGHTHOUSE
By Sharma Krauskopf.
Foula,
pronounced Foola (Norse, fugl-oy, "bird island") lies 27 m. west of the main
island of the Shetland group. It measures 3km. long by 2km. wide.
The cliffs on the west coast attain at the Sneug (Norse, Snjoog, "hill top") a
height of 1372 ft. They are the home of myriads of sea-birds and one of
the nesting-places of the bonxie, or great skua (Lestris cataractes). The
islanders carried on a running battle with the Northern Lighthouse Board to
build a lighthouse on the island. Finally in 1986 a lighthouse was built
on the south and flat end of the island. The building is modern and is
powered by solar panels.
FOULA LIGHTHOUSE
www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/sht.htm
Foula
1986. Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); three white flashes, separated by
2.7 s, every 15 s. Approx. 8 m (26 ft) cylindrical metal tower with
lantern and gallery; 4° Fresnel lens. Lighthouse painted white.
Foula is an isolated island about 40
km (25 mi) west of West Burra. The island is accessible by
ferry. Charles Tait also has a good
photo. The large fuel cylinder standing behind the light tower in
Tait's photo was removed when the light was solarized in 2000. Located at
the south point of the island; accessible by hiking trail. Site open,
tower closed. Operator:
Northern Lighthouse Board. Light List 3860; NGA List 3562 .
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