[/caption]Blogger "Direcleit" has recently been trawling the census records of these islands in search of the demographics of the 19th century. In one of his blogposts, he lists the Keepers of the Arnish Lighthouse from 1861 to 1901. The other entries are also very interesting.
Would be interested to see that, is it on the web?
ReplyDeleteThe link is in the post, have highlighted in bold
ReplyDeleteta
ReplyDeleteI see that the keepers' families had a "general servant" in many cases. From the numerous chimneys I imagine they would need a full-time fire-tending person. Is the building itself still in use? It's hard to tell from the photo.
ReplyDeleteThe Keeper's Cottage is still inhabited, although the light itself was automated a little while ago.
ReplyDeleteWould you believe the light was automated in Sep 1963 (47 years ago)
ReplyDeleteThe last keeper who I knew was named Jimmy Cordner and he transferred to Davaar Island on 17 September 1963. Arnish light was the first "prefabricated" lighthouse in Scotland the iron tower was cast in Falkirk and cost £459
My Gr Gr Grandfather Charles Black (b. Edinburgh) was a light house keeper at Arnish Point from 1856 to 1858. He was married to Harriet Melvin. Their daughter Harriet (my Gr Grandmother) was born at Arnish Point in 1857.
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