Robert Simpson Clyne was born in 1858 in Kirriemuir, Angus, the
younger of two sons of Alexander Clyne and Charlotte Simpson. He
commenced his service with the Northern Lighthouse Board in 1877 at
the age of 19, and retired in 1922 aged 63.
In 1883, Robert married Isabella Davidson whilst serving on the
Isle of May. His two sons and four of his five daughters were born
on the Isle of Man while he was stationed there. His youngest
daughter was born while he was at Rattray Head. After retiring from
the Northern Lighthouse Board he became a custodian of the Museum
in Montrose. He died in 1937.
Above: The Clyne Family c.1898. At the back are Anne, Dave, Mary
and Lottie. At the front are Isabella Clyne (nee Davidson)
with Lizzie on her knee, Alic, Mona and Robert Clyne.
Robert’s elder brother John followed him in to the Lighthouse
Service, serving at Kyleakin, Cape Wrath, St Abb’s Head and Noss
Head.
Robert’s sister stayed with him on the Isle of May as his
housekeeper and while there met and married Robert Agnew, another
lightkeeper and son of a lightkeeper. One of their daughters,
Charlotte Agnew also married a lightkeeper.
Robert’s daughter, Charlotte (Lottie) married Andrew Young Whyte
while he was an assistant lightkeeper. Lottie and Andrew’s youngest
daughter Betty married Jim Ross, who served on the lighthouse
supply vessels. Jim’s father was a lightkeeper as was his uncle,
grandfather and great uncle.
1 – Robert Clyne and his wife, Isabella Davidson.
2 - Board showing lights served on and Northern Lighthouse
Board Light Keepers appointment document.
3 – Robert Clyne and ‘KS’.
4 – Robert’s daughter Lottie with her husband Andrew Whyte. The
Whyte family also has lighthouse connections.
In 1922-1923, Clyne wrote a series of articles for the People's
Journal about his long career as a lightkeeper. The People's
Journal was a weekly paper launched in 1858. Published by D.C
Thomson in Dundee, it ran from 1858 – 1990 and covered a range of
stories across the whole of Scotland.
Clyne's words evoke a fascinating, multi-faceted picture of
lighthouse life, from dangerous tales of stormy seas to eerie
stories of mysterious events, humorous anecdotes, observations of
bird and sea life and historical facts. You can read a
transcript of his articles here [PDF 1778KB].
Clyne served as Principal Lighthouse Keeper at the Bell Rock for
eight years, from May 1900 to February 1908. He wrote the
following to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Bell Rock in
1936.
The Bell Rock Lighthouse
125th Anniversary
“Far in the bosom of the deep
O’er these wild shelves my watch I keep,
A ruddy beam of changeful light,
Bound in the dusky brow of night,
The seaman bids my lustre hail,
And scorns to strike his tim’rous sail.”
So wrote Walter Scott of Abbotsford in the Bell Rock album,
where in July 1814, he visited the lighthouse with a party of
Commisioners.
The Inchcape is a sandstone reef situated 11 miles SE from
Arbroath, 13 NE from Fifeness, and 19 NNE from the Isle of May at
the entrance to the Firth of Forth.
The reef extends in length from NE to SW for about 500 yards,
and in breadth 120 yards. Over it at high water Spring Tides runs a
depth of about 12 feet, and at low water, the Northerly portion of
the reef is bare to the height of 4 feet or thereby, a larger
portion to the SW being a boulder-strewn, tangle-covered extent,
never dry.
Such a reef unmarked, both by day and night, was the dread of
mariners, and a great menace to shipping. About a century and a
half ago when several December storms strewed the coast round the
Firth of Tay with the wreckage of many vessels, there was little
doubt but that many had foundered on the dangerous un-marked Bell
Rock reef.
In 1786 a Lighthouse Board for Scotland was appointed. With the
continuation of wrecks, the public was aroused to the necessity of
something being done to make the Bell Rock reef, instead of being a
dread, a guide to the open part of the Firth of Forth, and
safety.
The first erections on the reef were made in 1800–3, when
private gentlemen proposed to erect a cast iron lighthouse, and in
perseverance of their plan erected two temporary beacons, which in
a few months were washed down. A third and stronger erected in July
1803, in Dec. shared the same fate. Nothing further was attempted
till the commencement of the present structure.
In July 1806 a Bill was placed in Parliament which removed all
financial difficulties presenting an attempt to build a
permanent ['structure' crossed out] erection on the dreaded reef.
The act provided for a floating light being moored in the vicinity
during operations and a beacon being [words crossed out] erected on
the rock. It was decided that only a solid-based, dove tailed,
tremailed, joggled, and bolted granite structure could adequately
serve the purpose.
Granite from Rubislaw, Aberdeen and freestone from Mylnefield,
Dundee, was procured for the building, and Arbroath, being the
nearest harbour, was selected as the place for preparing all the
stones, and fitting the course on the other, before shipping them
to the Rock.
On 7th August 1807, a few workmen were landed on the Rock for
the first time to trace out the site of the lighthouse, and prepare
for the erection of the beacon. For only a few hours could they
work each tide, and often continued at it until knee-deep in
water.
Mr Stevenson’s beacon was no flimsy affair to be washed away
with the first winter storms, as were its predecessors, but while
the building of the tower proceeded, it served as a mortar gallery
and smith’s shop, and latterly a barrack for the workmen and
engineer and was, by a rope bridge, connected to the tower. In
1812, the beacon was removed from the rock. The writer was
principal keeper on the Bell Rock 1900-1908, and in 1907 removed
from the rock one of the large iron balls of the beacon, and the
red pine used as a wedge (which he kept as a souvenir,) is quite
fresh after nearly 100 years saturation in sea water.
After many experiments, it was resolved to use as mortar for the
building, Pozzaland earth, Aberthaw lime, and sharp sand, in about
equal proportions by measure, mixed with sea water, a mixture which
proved very efficient, for it hardened as solid as the granite
books, and stronger than the quartzy freestone of the reef.
In Oct. 1807 the workmen left the Rock for the season, but
during the winter work proceeded in Arbroath preparing the blocks
for next summer’s ['hopeful' crossed out] work.
In 1808 it was May before they could again start work on the
rock, and July before the pit was ready for the foundation stone.
On the 10th it was duly laid with massive honours Mr Stevenson and
his assistants applying the square, the level, and the mallet, and
pronouncing the following benediction – “May the Great Architect of
the Universe complete and bless this building.” In August the first
entire course was completed – 164 tons of solid contents. The
laying of the fourth course completed the building operations for
the season of 1808.
Severe weather was experienced in the spring of 1809, and little
building work was possible until well on in June, but in the work
yard at Arbroath hewing of the several courses, and the granite
masons sixteen, ready for shipment.
There was great rejoicing by the workers on the Rock on 8th
July, when, the tide being near [?] did not, for the first time
overflow the building at high water. In August the twenty fourth
course was laid, which completed the solid part of the building,
now fully 31 feet above the rock, and about 17 feet above high
water spring – tides, already a prominent land – or rather reef
mark during daylight.
In the spring of 1910 [sic] work was again greatly delayed by
rough weather, it being on many occasions impossible to land stones
and other material. By the middle of June the fourty [sic] seventh
course, forming the storeroom floor was finished, thus covering the
first compartment. Here Mr Stevenson had his writing desk sat, and
wrote, on 14th June 1811 what certainly was the first letter dated
from the Bell Rock Lighthouse. In July the other four floor courses
– oil store, kitchen, bedrooms, and library were completed. Each of
these floor courses were dovetailed, keyed, and joggled, which very
much tended to strengthen the structure. The last cargo of building
material was now brought from Arbroath, as it was decided to use
for the upper courses of the building the liver-rock [?] stone of
Craigleith, from its being less liable to injury when being worked
in frosty weather when the last stone of the lighthouse was
conveyed from the Greenside works, Edinburgh, in July, an
interested, decorated, beflagged company of workers formed a
procession and followed the sling-cart to the docks, where they
received a great ovation from the shipping fraternity of Leith.
When the ninetieth and last stone of the course was laid, and
the masonry brought to the height of 102 ½ feet, Mr Stevenson
pronounced the following benediction – May the Great Architect of
the Universe, under whose blessing this perilous work has
prospered, preserve it as a guide to the mariner.” This petition
has surely been answered, for how many thousands of sea-farers have
been saved, cheered and guided on their way by the welcome light
none can tell.
The light was exhibited for the first time in February 1811.
Argand lamps and reflectors were then in use, and Colza oil the
illuminant. Twenty lamps, reflectors, and lenses were revolved on a
light framework, driven by a clockwork machine which also, during
fog, tolled two bells on the balcony. About 1877 paraffin oil
superseded the Colza oil burners. In 1890 a tonite explosive
fog-signal was established. In 1902 the entire lantern, lighting
apparatus, and dome were re-newed, the Argand lamps being replaced
by a centrally fired first order lamp, round which revolves a
powerful lens. In 1905, the oil Incandescent system of lighting,
efficient, and almost universal in the Scotch service, was
introduced.
When resident on the Bell Rock I took the opportunity of
gleaning information about the building of my temporary home from
the very best authority, Robert Stevenson’s ‘Bell Rock Lighthouse”,
an interesting volume published in 1824. An abridged edition was
published by the Cambridge University Press in 1931.
“Stability to the Bell Rock Lighthouse”, was the toast of the
evening when Mr Stevenson forgathered with his friends the workmen
in Arbroath, after the completion of their arduous task so ['yet'
crossed out] again we heartily re-echo the sentiment, “Stability to
the Bell Rock Lighthouse”.