Account of the Skerryvore lighthouse : with notes on the illumination of lighthouses

In this detailed engineering memoir, a mid‑nineteenth‑century civil engineer recounts the arduous task of raising the Skerryvore lighthouse on a solitary reef in the Atlantic. The narrative blends personal observation with technical explanation, showing how a small team of workers braved relentless surf to quarry stone, nail ironwork, and erect the tower against the elements. Readers gain a vivid sense of the daily hazards—storm‑driven waves, precarious landings, and the sudden loss of a temporary barracks—while also learning why, remarkably, no lives were lost during the six seasons of construction.

The second part expands into a series of practical notes on lighthouse illumination, from the grinding of Fresnel’s dioptric mirrors to the layout of catadioptric zones. Illustrated plates and tables document coordinates, expenses, and experimental data on ocean wave force, offering a rare glimpse into Victorian engineering methodology. Together, the account serves both as a compelling adventure of human perseverance and a valuable reference on early lighthouse optics.