- Kinnaird Head
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Kinnaird Head (Scottish Gaelic: An Ceann Àrd, "high headland") is a headland projecting into the North Sea, within the town of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire on the east coast of Scotland. It is the site of the first lighthouse in Scotland to be lit by the Commissioners of Northern Lights.[1] The light was designed by Thomas Smith, built in 1787, and now forms part of the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses.
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Kinnaird Castle
The Kinnaird Castle (one of The Nine Castles of Knuckle), was built in 1570 by Sir Alexander Fraser, 8th laird of Philorth and sold to the Trustees of the Northern lights in 1787, who turned it into a lighthouse. The last to reside in the castle were John Gordon of Kinellar (1684-1764) and his wife, Henrietta Fraser (1698-1751).
Lighthouse
Kinnaird Head Lighthouse 
Kinnaird Head Old Lighthouse Location Fraserburgh
NJ999676Coordinates 57°41′54″N 2°0′12″W / 57.69833°N 2.00333°W Year first constructed 1787 Year first lit 1991 (current) Automated 1991 Construction White tower Height 10 metres (33 ft) Focal height 25 metres (82 ft) Intensity 690,000 candela Range 22 nautical miles Characteristic Fl. W 5sec Fog signal Siren: Discontinued The original light at Kinnaird Head was established by Thomas Smith on 1 December 1787.[2] A lantern was set 120 feet above the sea on a tower of the old castle. Whale oil lamps produced a fixed light, each backed by a parabolic reflector. Kinnaird Head was the most powerful light of its time, and contained 17 reflectors arranged in 3 horizontal tiers. It was reported to be visible 12 or 14 miles off.
In 1824, internal alternations were made to incorporate a new lantern and to provide accommodation for the lightkeepers. In 1906 the light was converted to incandescent operation. In 1929 Kinnaird Head became home to the first Radio Beacon in Scotland.[2] The Fog Signal was discontinued in 1987, although the horn is still in place. The original lighthouse is no longer operational and is now home to The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses. A new automatic light was established beside the original light in 1991.
The Winetower in 2007
Winetower
The Winetower is a small three story tower located approximately 50 metres from Kinnaird Head Lighthouse. It is reputed that in the cave below, one of the Fraser family imprisoned his daughter's boyfriend, leaving him to drown there. The daughter then jumped from the roof of the tower. There is red paint on the rocks below to illustrate her blood. According to local tradition, the tower is said to be haunted.
Museum of Scottish Lighthouses
The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses at Kinnaird Head incorporates the original lighthouse and a modern building housing collections of lenses and other artefacts from many lighthouses across Scotland.[3] The museum hosts a wide range of special events throughout the year, and includes a cafe and gift shop.
Footnotes
- ^ Kinnaird Head - site information from Historic Scotland
- ^ a b "Kinnaird Head". Northern Lighthouse Board. http://www.nlb.org.uk/LighthouseLibrary/Lighthouse/Kinnaird-Head/. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
- ^ "Museum of Scottish Lighthouses". Museum of Scottish Lighthouses. http://www.lighthousemuseum.org.uk/. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
External links
- Panorama from the lantern room (QuickTime required)
Settlements and places of interest in Banff and Buchan, Aberdeenshire Primary settlements Aberchirder · Banff · Fraserburgh · Gardenstown · Inverallochy and Cairnbulg · Macduff · Portsoy · Rosehearty · Sandhaven · Whitehills
Other settlements Boyndie · Broadsea · Cornhill · Cortes · Crovie · Fordyce · King Edward · Memsie · Netherbrae · New Aberdour · New Byth · Pennan · Sandend
Places of interest Duff House · Findlater Castle · Kinnaird Head Lighthouse · Memsie Cairn
Categories:- Historic Scotland properties
- 1787 architecture
- Castles in Aberdeenshire
- Headlands of Scotland
- Listed lighthouses in Scotland
- Banff and Buchan
- Lighthouse museums in the United Kingdom
- Museums in Aberdeenshire
- Reportedly haunted locations in Scotland
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