Monach Isles Lighthouse is situated on Shillay, the westernmost of the Monach Islands (also known as Heisker), in the Outer Hebrides.
History
1859: In January, the Board of Trade wrote to the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses, enclosing a letter from Captain Otter, Admiralty Surveyor, regarding the provision of a Lighthouse in the Monach Islands. After a joint inspection by the Commissioners, the elder Brethern of Trinity House, and Captain Otter, it was decided that a light would be advantageous in guiding vessels clear of the dangerous rock sand shoals.
David and Thomas Stevenson endorsed this view in their report, stating:
“We have no hesitation, however in reporting on the assumption that the list of shipwrecks which have been laid before this Board is correct, that a light on the west coast of the Hebrides would be useful to shipping.”
The Board of Trade and Trinity House gave their approval to the establishment of a Lighthouse.
1862: The island of Shillay, on which the Monach Lighthouse stands, was bought by the Commissioners from Sir John Orde and his son, together with a site measuring 0.0282 of an acre on the adjoining island of Ceaniar, on which a store house was erected. The cost of purchasing the island was £400.
1864: The original light was first exhibited on 1 February. The Lighthouse was built at a cost of £14,673 under the engineers David L. and Thomas Stevenson.
1936: A tragedy occurred on 15 November when two lightkeepers were drowned. They had taken a rowing boat across the half mile stretch of water to collect the post, a journey which involved a walk of approximately two and three quarter miles and the crossing of two fords. The weather deteriorated badly – sleet and gale force winds blew up – and on the return journey, their rowing boat was driven off course. They disappeared from view and it was not until 7 and 8 December that their bodies were washed up on Heisker Isle, across the Sound.
1942: The light, the only one on the west coast of the Hebrides, was closed down during the war.
1948: After extensive enquiries had been made, it was decided that the light had ceased to be of value to general navigation, and on 22 November, the Monach Isles Light was discontinued permanently.
1966: On 28 March, the Commissioners made an agreement that granted the Natural Environment Research Council the right to form a nature reserve on the island of Shillay, where the study of, research into, and preservation of various species of flora and fauna is carried out.
1996: In July, the Northern Lighthouse Board received approval and financial backing from the Department for Transport for the construction of three new lighthouses to mark the Deep Water Route, West of the Hebrides. This route had been recommended to laden tankers in the Report by Lord Donaldson, Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas, which followed the Braer disaster in the Shetlands in 1993.
1997: The three new lights were established. These are located at Haskeir (off North Uist), Gasker (off North Harris), and Monach Isles (off Benbecula). All three lights operated automatically and were monitored using a combination of UHF, VHF radio and BT landline direct to the Northern Lighthouse Board’s Headquarters in Edinburgh.
2005: Following a review of marine aids to navigation carried out by the General Lighthouse Authorities, it was decided to increase the range of the Monach Isles light from 10 miles to 18 miles. To achieve an 18 mile range it would be necessary to raise the focal plane of the existing light and increase its output. The modular design of the existing aluminium and GRP lighthouse did not lend itself to the increase in focal plane height required. Additionally, it would be necessary to utilise a rotating light, with a larger array of solar panels and increased battery capacity. The best engineering solution for increasing the range of the aid to navigation was to house a new optic in the original 1864 lighthouse tower.
2008: On 25 July, the newer light was decommissioned. The Northern Lighthouse Board issued a Notice to Mariners stating:
“the existing light will be discontinued and a new light will be established in the FORMER LIGHTHOUSE TOWER with the undernoted characteristics:-
Character: Group Flashing (2) White every 15 seconds (as before)
Elevation: 47 metres
Nominal Range: 18 Miles
Description of Structure: Red Brick Tower (height 41 metres)”
Chief Executive of the Northern Lighthouse Board, Roger Lockwood said:
“We are delighted to have moved back into the original tower at the Monachs, which was built by David and Thomas Stevenson in 1864. The tower has essentially been left for the last 60 years, since the light was extinguished during the Second World War, and the limited amount of remedial work we have had to carry out pays tribute to the great work of the Stevensons. The decision to reinstate the light in the original tower came as a direct result of our Aids to Marine Navigation Review carried out in 2005, where our users, the mariner, requested an increased visual range of light. The re-establishment of Monachs light will provide a vital marker for shipping passing through the Deep Water Route, west of the Hebrides.”
The original Monachs light was exhibited once more on the evening of 25 July.