Comprising a 35m (115 feet) white tower, painted with broad
red bands, the Buchan Ness Lighthouse is located on the peninsula
of Buchan Ness, next to the village of Boddam and 2 miles
(4 km) south of Peterhead.
It was completed in 1827 by the noted lighthouse engineer
Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850) and has a range of 28 miles
(45 km). The red bands were added in 1907 to improve its visibility
as a landmark during the daylight hours. The lighthouse and
its associated buildings suffered damage when a mine washed
ashore and exploded during World War II. The light was electrified
in 1978 and ten years later the lighthouse was automated.
It is now remotely monitored by the Northern Lighthouse Board
in Edinburgh.
Buchan
Ness has a rather interesting history. Petitions were received
by the Commissioners in 1819 from the Magistrates, town Councils
and Harbour trustees of Peterhead, to have a lighthouse erected
on Buchan Ness or any more eligible part of the coast. The area
was surveyed by Robert Stevenson, Engineer to the Board (also
grandfather of Robert Louis Stevenson), who decided on the present
position of the village Boddam. It was not, however, until 1827
that the light was exhibited.
John Gibb of Aberdeen was the contractor responsible for the
building of Buchan Ness. The red bands were added In 1907 to
distinguish it as a day mark.
During the Second World War, a drifting mine washed ashore and
exploded 50 yards south of the station. No one was injured and
the material damage consisted of 3 lantern panes cracked and
12 other glass panes broken in the tower, engine room and dwelling
houses. Part of the ceilings of the kitchen and one bedroom
of the 1st Assistant's house were brought down and the locks,
hinges and bolts of 4 doors damaged. There were also 20 slates
blown off the roof storehouse.
There have been many changes since 1827 in the light, in 1910
to dioptric, in 1978 the lantern was especially enlarged with
the candlepower raised from 6,500 to 786,000 and in 1978, it
was converted to electric operation, candlepower 2,000,000.
The lighthouse was automated in 1988 and is now remotely monitored
from the Board’s headquarters in Edinburgh. The fog horn
was discontinued in 2000.
It should be noted that at some sites the Northern Lighthouse
Board have sold some redundant buildings within the lighthouse
complex and are not responsible for the maintenance of these
building.
