Eilean Glas Lighthouse Scalpay, The Outer Hebrides
The Eilean Glas Lighthouse has had an fascinating past but unfortunately now has an uncertain future. The original building of 1789 was replaced in 1824 by Robert Stevenson. This beautiful lighthouse, along with outbuildings and cottages for its keepers and families remained fully manned up until 1978 when it became automated. Soon afterwards it was bought by Brenda & Robert Ford-Sagers, but in 2004 they were convicted of theft and of running a fraudulent charity to pay for the mortgage on the property. The couple were jailed and ordered to sell other properties to pay back the money. The cottages and outbuildings still belong to the Ford-Sagers family but are unfortunately in a very poor state and in desperate need of restoration. It was a fascinating place to visit and photograph but sad to see it in such a mess. Hopefully one day it will return to its former splendor.
1 Comment
Lesley Synge
24th January 2017Evocative – aren’t they? – lighthouses. If they fall into decay, we worry that civilisation’s end is pending. BTW, here in Australia I have just discovered that I have a convict ancestor. He was William Byrne from York who was transported to Sydney in 1824 aboard the Countess of Harcourt for stealing 7 shirts. He arrived in 1824. I immediately Googled the Byrnes of York and discovered a possible distant relative – you. I’m a writer; a recent essay about an island near Brisbane was recently published in The Island Review. Thanks for the photographs!