Grantonhistory

No, it’s not a lighthouse...

It's the former Northern Lighthouse Board Depot

Although sometimes mistaken for a lighthouse, this was actually the depot for the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB). The Board was responsible for maintaining all the lighthouses in Scotland. Supplies for the lighthouses were stored at the depot, and taken by boat to the various lighthouses by vessels which the Board owned. The lantern on top of the building, similar to a real lighthouse, was used for training and to test lights before they were put into in service.

Granton served as the base for the NLB vessels from 1874. Depot services in this area were moved to Leith in 1975, but are now concentrated on Oban.

The Northern Lighthouse Board depot – Click to enlarge

The Northern Lighthouse Board depot

Photo: D King

The Northern Lighthouse Board depot
Click photograph to enlarge

There was a real lighthouse at Granton, at the end of the Middle Pier as shown on this map, which has since been replaced by a new lighthouse.

The real lighthouse – Click to enlarge

Granton Lighthouse, on the end of the Middle Pier. The lantern on the NLB depot is visible just to the left of the lighthouse.

Photo: D King, 08/08/2010

Granton Lighthouse
Click photograph to enlarge
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