The Bell Rock Lighthouse 11 miles off the Arbroath coast and one of the wonders of the engineering world is featured in a new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
Shining Lights: The Story of Scotland’s Lighthouses tells of the people who designed, built and operated the country’s lighthouses, lighting a safe passage for mariners along the jagged and dangerous coastline for more than 250 years.
The exhibition will feature many objects from the National Museum’s collections unseen for over two decades, including spectacular giant optics, lighthouse models, beacons, photographs, books and charts dating from as far back as the 17th century.
A series of interactive exhibits will further explain the development of lighthouse technology right up to the present day.
The exhibition also marks next year’s 200th anniversary of the lighting of the Bell Rock the world’s oldest surviving rock lighthouse.
Designed by Robert Stevenson, the building of the lighthouse was an astonishing feat of engineering that marked the coming of age of the Stevenson family’s connection with Scottish lighthouses.
Almost all of Scotland’s 208 lighthouses were developed, designed and built by a member of this engineering dynasty whose talents contributed significantly to scientific and technological development across the world.
The family’s impressive credentials are a central part of the exhibition.
Principal curator Alison Morrison-Low said, “Lighthouses remain some of our best-loved landmarks and we believe visitors will be fascinated to see and hear about their history, from the Scottish engineering ingenuity involved to the personal stories of the men and women who kept the lights shining for passing mariners.
“The lighting of the Bell Rock 200 years ago was a tremendously important development, both for lighthouse technology in general and for the Stevensons, Scotland’s lighthouse family. We’re delighted to be able to mark the anniversary with such an important exhibition.”
Broadcaster, historian and author Neil Oliver is also looking forward to the exhibition.
He said, “As someone who has swum out to the Eddystone Lighthouse and slept in the most remote lighthouse in Britain I have a real love for these beautiful, dramatic and amazing structures.
“I’m glad that Scotland’s vital role in the creation of lighthouses will be told in this exciting exhibition and I’m really looking forward to seeing it for myself.”
Shining Lights: The Story of Scotland’s Lighthouses runs from October 15 to April 3 at the National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh.Find out more at the national museum’s website.