Models of layers of masonry for Bell Rock Lighthouse

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These are models of the layers, or courses, of masonry which were used to build the 120 feet (36.5 metre) tower of the Bell Rock lighthouse.

During the construction of the tower, each course was assembled and marked before being shipped to the rock. Once in place, they were prevented from sliding over one another by inserting small cubes of stone between them.

There were a number of attempts to warn ships away from Bell Rock. After the wooden beacon of 1803 was destroyed in a storm, Robert Stevenson, 1772-1850, designed and supervised the building of this strong and impressive lighthouse.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-000-099-985-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: Innovators and Innovations (multimedia essay)
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1867.22.2
• Date: 1822
  
• Material: Lighthouse / course / construction / model / case
  
• Dimensions: 380 mm to 120 mm x 30 mm
  
• What: Lighthouse / course / construction / model / case
  
• Subject: 9. NAVIGATION (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: Robert Stevenson (designer)
  
• Where: Scotland, Angus, Bell Rock / Inch Cape (Lighthouse)
  
• Event:
• Description: Small case containing models of the first entire course, the thirty second, the forty seventh, the forty eighth and the eighty sixth courses of the Bell Rock Lighthouse
  
• References:
  • Stevenson, David. Life of Robert Stevenson: Civil Engineer. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1878
• Translations:
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