Southerness Lighthouse

We spotted Southerness Lighthouse while visiting the Thirlstane Arch on the neighbouring Powillimount Beach. The square building caught my eye, when the sun reflected off its whitewashed walls and we decided to take a closer look.

The lighthouse was commissioned by Dumfries Town Council in 1748 and completed the following year. This makes it the second oldest lighthouse in Scotland, second only to the lighthouse on the Isle of May, which was built almost a hundred years earlier.

Dumfries was a major port back then and there was a steady stream of activity between both Liverpool and Ireland. The lighthouse was built to assist the safe passage of vessels through the rocky shores of the Solway Firth into theNith estuary. It was built by the mason Peter Milligan of Burran, as a 30 foot high unlit navigational pillar.

An interesting piece of information that I picked up during my research, is that Southerness was originally named Salters Ness, due to the important salt industry and salt pans that existed here during the 12th century.

At some point the lighthouse was raised in height, funded by Mrs Oswald of Auchencruive. Then in 1805, the famous engineer Robert Stevenson, assisted by James Slight made more improvements to the lighthouse and the lighthouse was finally lit and a keeper was appointed in 1811.

In 1837, the lighthouse reportedly measured a height of 36 feet. But during the 1840s, the height was raised again, this time by Walter Newall. It is thought that this could be the reason that the top of the lighthouse is tapered.

Between 1867 and 1894, the lighthouse was not lit due to financial constraints. Fortunately after modernisation funded by Georgiana Blackett of Arbigland, it reopened in 1894.

Sadly the lighthouse is inaccessible, but I researched the layout of the interior. The staircase within the lighthouse is not the original, that probably followed the course of the slit windows found in the walls. The current staircase consists of six levels which lead to a timber clad room above which is the light room.

The light room is empty with a metal plate and a skeleton of metalwork which would have supported the lantern. The room is still glazed at the front and is topped off with a pyramidal slate roof with a chimney ventilator cowl.

The brass frame of the last lantern once stood on the concrete plinth behind the lighthouse. It had the maker's name and date inscribed as James Milne and Sons Ltd of Edinburgh and the date 1894.

The balcony looked quite romantic, I imagined the hubby and I having a Romeo and Juliet moment. From a distance it looks great, with its black metal balustrade set against the whitewashed walls. It wasn't until I zoomed in, that I saw how precarious it looked.

The lighthouse was finally decommissioned in 1936. It is now in the care of the nearby caravan park and doesn't appear to be accessible.

It is worth taking the time to enjoy the beach and the wonderful views over the Solway Firth to the Cumbrian Mountains. The surrounding rocks display the importance of a lighthouse here, imagine trying to navigate these treacherous waters in stormy conditions.

Southerness Lighthouse is a category A Listed Building with Historic Environment Scotland.

Once you have visited the lighthouse, why not drive past Wreaths Tower on the way out or even visit the Thirlstane Arch on Powillimount Beach.