Page 24 - KBHA BULLETIN 6

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was being constantly eroded by the wave action of the sea. Thirdly, the herring-bone

pattern of the segments of the tower would make it impossible to transfer the structure to

the new base.

Bourne and Mair recommended that an interlocking granite stone ring, 4 ft. thick, be built
around the existing tower base up to a height of 13 ft.. They also proposed that the lime

concrete inside the tower be excavated and replaced with Portland cement concrete. This
scheme was referred to Parkes for his comment and, not surprisingly, he preferred his own

solution but did not object to the new proposal.

It was decided to go ahead with the new scheme and Mair was appointed to supervise the

work. Unfortunately Mair died soon after his appointment and King, in spite of having

been previously dismissed, was appointed in his place.

Because of the working conditions on the site it was decided to completely build the stone
strengthening-ring on Seaforth beach in such a way that it could be dismantled and

transported by lighter to the rock. Locally quarried and dressed granite stone blocks
weighing up to four tons each were used, with each block carefully marked for reassembly

on site. The heavier blocks were transported by a specially designed "punt" with watertight

compartments as buoyancy tanks. The blocks were off-loaded by a crane built on the
existing tower and moved to their correct position by a "suspended railway" type system.

Work on site averaged half an hour per day, but in spite of this approximately thirty holes
five inches deep were drilled by hand using chisels and sledge hammers.

The work was eventually finished at the beginning of 1867 (Fig. 1.6), and the lighthouse

was accepted by Mr. Elton of the Public Works Department on 28 February of that year, in

spite of an incessant vibration reported by the men on the rock.

During all this period the light never stopped operating and was continually manned until

1919 when it was converted to an automatic gas system. This light eventually became too

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