The Northern Lighthouse Board: A Legacy of Maritime Heritage

Recently, we were fortunate to pay a visit to the headquarters of the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) here in Edinburgh as part of Doors Open Days. So, join us as we ‘explore and discover’ a place where the maritime heritage of Scotland comes alive!

Lighthouses have been a crucial part of Scotland’s landscape for centuries. In fact, the first Scottish lighthouse was established on the Isle of May in 1636. A little over one hundred years later, in 1786, the Northern Lighthouse Board was established to oversee the lighting and marking of Scotland's coast. This was crucial, of course, because Scotland’s waters have long been some of the most treacherous in the world, with hidden rocks and shifting tides that pose challenges to maritime navigation. Yet, the Board’s obligation was not just about safety, it also supported maritime trade during an era of booming industrialisation.

Historically, there have been some prominent people who have had key connections to the history as well as the current significance of the Northern Lighthouse Board. One of the most famous families to play a pivotal role in shaping Scotland's maritime landscape through their deep involvement with the NLB were the Stevensons. For 151 years, they created a family dynasty of engineers that were instrumental in designing and constructing many of Scotland's lighthouses.

For those who are not familiar with this maritime history, the name ‘Stevenson’ is probably familiar to long-time readers of this blog. That is because our frequent ‘visitor’, Robert Louis Stevenson (RLS), was part of this family. His grandfather, Robert Stevenson, was appointed as engineer to the NLB in 1808. RLS’ father, Thomas, and his two uncles were also engineers with the NLB. It is known that Thomas was disappointed when his son didn’t follow into the family business. However, I think that it’s safe to say that RLS certainly made his own special mark in the world with his famous books. As a matter of fact, it is said that Robert Louis Stevenson’s visits to these remote lighthouses with his relatives are what inspired him to write ‘Kidnapped’ and ‘Treasure Island’.

RLS was quoted as poignantly saying, “There is scarce a deep sea light from the Isle of Man to North Berwick, but one of my blood designed it. The Bell Rock stands monument for my grandfather; the Skerry Vhor for my uncle Alan; and when the lights come out along the shores of Scotland, I am proud to think that they burn more brightly for the genius of my father”. We imagine it must have been very difficult for RLS to go against such a strong family tradition and choose a different career path. Nevertheless, we are selfishly glad that he did so, otherwise the literary world would be void of such amazing adventure classics.

The Stevensons' legacy still shines brightly today, as their meticulously built lighthouses continue to guide ships safely along Scotland's rugged coastlines, a testament to their engineering excellence.

The British royal family have also been active supporters of the NLB. In 1986, the then Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, visited the Board to present them with a plaque to celebrate their bicentenary. He was the President of the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities. In 2017, the patron of the Northern Lighthouse Board, the Princess Royal (Princess Anne), opened the Stevenson Rooms to honour that amazing family. Sit tight because we will tour more of those rooms in just a moment. However, our tour begins outside on the streets of Edinburgh.

As you approach the New Town location of the Northern Lighthouse Board, the building façade is rather nondescript, except for one main telltale clue above the door. There, you can see a working model of a lighthouse. Additionally, you can see the Saltire, the Commissioner’s flag of the National Lighthouse Board, and the Isle of Man flag.

Upon entering, we quickly admired the classically designed room and gave our greetings to the bust of the father of the Stevenson dynasty, Robert Stevenson.

We then followed the NLB staff person as they guided us down to the Stevenson Rooms.

The Rooms boasted a variety of artefacts that captured the imagination—shiny brass lenses, vintage lenses that once lit up the coast, and other maritime-related items connected to the work the NLB has done in the past and present.

Today, the Northern Lighthouse Board “are responsible for the superintendence and management of all lights, buoys and beacons within Scottish and Isle of Man waters”. To help visualise this, one particularly fascinating feature of our visit was the live monitor set up, showcasing the real-time status of lighthouses across Scotland. All the lighthouses are monitored remotely from here at the NLB headquarters. It’s amazing to think about how much the technology has changed the concept of how lighthouses are managed over the centuries.

Be sure to check out the Northern Lighthouse Board’s website for more information on the crucial work that they do to ensure “the safety of all”. One webpage that we found particularly fascinating is an interactive map of the 208 lighthouses across Scotland and the Isle of Man. You can click on each lighthouse to find out more about its location, history, and if there is public access. One thing is for certain, we owe a debt of gratitude to the Northern Lighthouse Board as they have helped shine the way to Scotland for centuries and hopefully will continue to do so for many more to come.

Until next time- Explore & Discover!