Latitude: 58.9856 / 58°59'8"N
Longitude: -2.9601 / 2°57'36"W
OS Eastings: 344915
OS Northings: 1011336
OS Grid: HY449113
Mapcode National: GBR M41Z.JQR
Mapcode Global: WH7C4.HDNX
Plus Code: 9CCVX2PQ+6X
Entry Name: Kirkwall Harbour Light (Old)
Listing Name: Kirkwall Harbour Light (Old)
Listing Date: 24 January 2008
Category: C
Source: Historic Scotland
Source ID: 399823
Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB51038
Building Class: Cultural
ID on this website: 200399823
Location: Kirkwall and St Ola
County: Orkney Islands
Electoral Ward: Kirkwall West and Orphir
Parish: Kirkwall And St Ola
Traditional County: Orkney
Tagged with: Architectural structure
1854. 20ft cast iron harbour light with tapered circular column surmounted by pentagonal lantern painted white. Black, square plinth with panelled sides. Flared, roll-moulded base rising to main body consisting of three sections divided by ribbing. Glazing of each lantern face has circular central light and three triangular panes above and below. Ogee-cap with cylindrical ventilator and flagstaff. Small round window within lower section of column.
The Kirkwall harbour light is a good example of its type in Scotland with its pentagonal lantern being particularly unusual. Constructed in 1854, it is an early use of cast-iron for this building type, with the material becoming more commonly used in the 1870s and 80s. It was moved from its original position at the head of the main pier in 1994 and now occupies a prominent position at the head of the inner west pier.
Retaining its former context and setting to a substantial extent, the structure is now visible and accessible to pedestrians on Harbour Street.
The lantern was formerly surmounted by a 15ft latticed cast iron pyramid superstructure with flagstaff. This was replaced during the 1980s by an electric light box system reached by a fixed ladder to the exterior with protective hoops. These later additions were removed in 1994 when the light was decommissioned and moved to its current location at the end of the inner west pier. The lantern platform was formerly decorated at the five corners by corbels in the form of seamen's heads. John R Hume refers to similarities between this light and the highly elaborate but later harbour light at Greenock (1868) with its square base and ribbed tapering cast iron column (see separate listing).
The 60 or so extant historic harbour lights of Scotland vary enormously in size and building materials, forming a distinctive minor building type, illustrating approaches to harbour design and illumination over the course of two centuries.
External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.
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