meaning great remote reef lies west coast scotland miles kilometres south west island best known given lighthouse built difficulty height feet tallest lighthouse scotland shore station houses operations later transferred west location led keepers receiving additional payments kind light break fire shut operations years lighthouse automated geology pre historic times rocks form covered ice sheets spread scotland atlantic_ocean outer retreat ice years ago sea levels feet lower present rise land makes estimating post glacial coastlines complex task circa likely reef south western end large island consisting modern islands surrounding land steadily rising sea levels slowly isolated finally submerged barrier remnants stretch miles kilometres lying south westerly direction detailed survey undertaken listed main rocks including scottish scottish rocks worn smooth action waves constantly affected spray wrote effect jet times extremely beautiful water broken form snow white pillar surrounded fine sunshine beautiful observed isolated outpost archipelago composed formed rocks ancient rocks europe hazard shipping magnetic area planning construction lighthouse surveys thirty ships known wrecked area chief engineer landed reef reported need beacon kind returned company sir party commissioners scott wrote quiet great kicking bouncing yacht like idea little commissioners length come sight long ridge rocks chiefly water tide breaks tremendous style appear low broad rocks end reef mile length entirely water surf position lighthouse bell rock joke nearest land wild island miles distance later year act parliament passed enabling construction lighthouse despite pleas light arriving weekly events proceeded slowly returned company son survey clear little choice location single largest area rock measured low tide readings wave pressure indicated tower withstand forces pounds square foot suggestions tower cast iron bronze sufficient senior wrote consideration opinion justified adoption iron lighthouse occasion warn passing vessels danger ship newcastle charts showed main rock miles away boarded near master oblivious dangers found lying ease smoking pipe wife commissioners potential costs estimated set special members decided visit site steamer fire broke boiler room ship extinguished harm experience duly appointed engineer project aged designed tower feet high base feet feet gallery lowest sections solid feet feet high half height base later light nearby nonetheless structure weigh long tons volume base times larger entire structure light twice steps tallest heaviest lighthouse built modern world today tallest lighthouse united_kingdom shore station initial shore station construction site located south west corner proximity resulting abundance bounty led higher rest west coast island work new facilities began granite blocks brought village cut shaped shipped reef cottages keepers built stone massive pier tall granite tower enable signalling remarked activity contrasted misery imagined lot surrounding population foundation wages spent constructing ton steamer ferry workers materials reef difficulties dozen miles miles mainland work undertaken construction legged frame wooden house men placed building created dismantled built site initial work began rock august arrived board sailing vessel began massive legs set holes rock days site abandoned storm swept atlantic days resume schedule hours day work fearing sea sickness man preferred attempt sleep damp rocks rolling work season lasted september time legs secured main structure months later received letter began dear sir extremely sorry inform erected totally disappeared structure destroyed gale november months effort wasted hired boat inspect damage day received news firm self belief resolved build stronger identical replacement work began april early september completed stood feet rock entry attached legs led lowest level containing kitchen middle level contained master works whilst level provided sleeping quarters men work foundations lighthouse continued september total charges remove tons rock believed rock hard effort involved times required boring granite work went end second season blocks laid april june blocks fashioned stone donated duke roughly rock taken blocks shape largest weighed tons smallest tons precision required meant single block man hours complete tower new violence storms winter work commenced rock april arrival new steamer carefully fashioned blocks began arrive site laid 7th duke july son george later wrote sight fresh memory interval years seen yesterday natural surfaces rock irregular highest degree worn broken battered ages tremendous surf splitting rock lines natural square foot rock level midst torn surface suddenly came magnificent circular floor diameter level water smooth table soon blocks day arriving weather continued play summer steamer unable reach reef fourteen consecutive days occasion landings possible seven weeks supplies began run low work ceased autumn tons granite standing feet ins high stood continued labour blocks winter courses base hard remainder granite work continued crane huge blocks tower rose raised july aged visited site annual voyage inspection walls base feet thick feet thick sit apartments feet diameter total cost works undertaken including cost establishing shore station estimated credit captain landing master single life lost construction fitting final season work spent fitting interior chief engineer final work undertaken supervision brother thomas light lenses revolving lamp lenses reflecting constructed edinburgh machinery ready beginning seven weeks landing undertaken rock lamp finally lit february years greatest achievements engineering aesthetic perspective chose curve outline stylistic reasons nephew described extant deep sea lights according asserted world graceful lighthouse keepers hazards surrounding reefs lighthouse normally approached shipping completion construction work result end difficulties involved operations easiest landing intersects rock near tower landing described like climbing bottle system ropes attached installed assist dangerous operations statistics compiled decades showed having scotland total storms lasting hours period keeper lost hearing weeks lightning strike thrown entrance door keeper wrote bird visible tower hundreds birds flying directions crossing crossing flight coming collision seemingly opinion way escape confusion got windows fog bell installed operating scotland time adverse conditions faced keepers resulted receiving additional payments kind remote location suited veterans assistant keeper years principal involved dramatic rescue liner route halifax nova scotia liverpool ran aground nearby manned eighteen passengers reached lighthouse looked half days taken mainland lives lost assistants commended efforts served keeper years told posting helped complete new landing slender metal walkway called landings possible conditions previously considered hopeless baked bread table marble post construction events numerous dignitaries visited light ensuing years lord edinburgh came wrote interested knowing method intercourse signals morning clock ball hoisted lighthouse signal fail given ball raised wrong reply ball schooner wet dock sea lighthouse high waves washed tower severe storms told rose high window level rocks wind waves building shook danger entertained visual similarity miles kilometres south east led painting distinctive red band round middle section advantage proximity site construction period small harbour offered little shelter shipping keepers operated operations transferred adjacent signal tower land buildings sold 8th duke witnessed laying stone years previously steamer signal built based relief operations shore station moved 1950s mines laid vicinity rock german submarines july world war stick bombs dropped passing german plane explosion cracked shattered disastrous fire started seventh floor night march spread downwards keepers time raise alarm driven lighthouse rocks rescued day relief vessel arrived regular schedule heat fire caused damage interior structure series temporary lights installed reconstruction new generators placed lighthouse provide electric light source lit august constructed enable relief trips undertaken need sea landings lighthouse fully automated march monitored radio link lighthouse tower converted house run restored pier possible visit based
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