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 The
Trustees had no idea of his abilities and so
declined his offer and instead appointed three
Edinburgh masons for the task: George Shiells,
to be paid 4/2d for every lawful days work,
and brothers John and William Purdie at 3/-
a day They set off for the Hebrides in July
1787, but since it was getting to late in the
season to make much progress , they were diverted
to the Mull of Kintyre to carry on with building
works there.
In
March the following year, two sea captains sailing
through the Minch reported that they had seen
a low tower on the site intended for the Scalpay
light. The Trustees immediately wrote to MacLeod
to enquire what was going on. They learnt that
Kenneth Campbell, who had a copy of the architect's
plan, had commenced building of his own accord.
Although annoyed by this, the Trustees set "a
gratification of ten guinees" to Campbell,
in order to avoid any unpleasantness between
the tacksman and the future lightkeeper. Thomas
Smith and George Shiells were at once dispatched
to Scalpay to find out exactly what had been
done. They found the seven foot tower to be
four feet wider than the plan, but it was well
constructed so Smith decided to carry on building
at that width in order to prevent any further
delays.
A
great deal of equipment was also discovered
at the site, some of it inappropriate and quite
superfluous, particularly a winch and large
quantities of rope for hauling stones - the
ground around the tower was littered with rock.
His workmen had also constructed "300feet of
very good carriage road" and "a kind of quay"
was built on the shore below the lighthouse,
but it was destroyed by stormy seas and never
used. Kenneth Campbell was certainly enthusiastic!
By October Shiells and his men had completed
the building of the tower and the lightkeeper's
cottage, and they returned to Edinburgh for
the winter. The following spring, the vessel
"Nelly and Kelly" was chartered from Wick and
sailed for North Ronaldsay and Eilean Glas with
equipment to complete the lights. At Fraserburgh
they picked up Alexander Reid and his family.
Reid was a sailor who had been appointed first
lighthousekeeper to serve at Eilean Glas. And
he served well! He manned the light for thirty
five years until he retired in 1823, "Weather
beaten and stiff from so long an exposure at
the Point of Glas" (Daniell).
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