Eilean Glas Lighthouse (3)
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). .
