Arbroath Signal Tower Museum

Latest news

Museum in the Library Day In Arbroath

Staff of Signal Tower Museum, Arbroath, will be available for consultation, in Arbroath Library, on Saturday 4th September, from 10.30am until 2.30pm, during the first of a series of Museum in the Library sessions.

During the Museum refurbishment project, members of the public can still make contact with staff, by email, on signal.tower@angus.gov.uk.

Closure of Signal Tower Museum for Renewal of Displays

Currently, the Museum is closed to the public. It will re-open during Spring 2011, after extensive refurbishment and redisplay of maritime collections.

The closure period will allow Angus Council staff to carry out a £425 000 refurbishment of the museum, in time for celebration of the bicentenary of the Bell Rock Lighthouse, in 2011.

Refurbishment work will include the creation of new displays, focussing on Arbroath’s maritime heritage, including the link with the Bell Rock Lighthouse. 2011 has been named The Year of the Light. Bicentenary celebrations are to run throughout the year, in Arbroath and Edinburgh.

Although the museum will be closed during the refurbishment period, members of the public can still make contact by telephone or email, on 01241 875598 or signal.tower@angus.gov.uk. Museum staff plan to run contact sessions, for anyone wishing to donate historic objects or to keep up to date with progress on the refurbishment project.

About the museum

Beside Arbroath’s harbour, on the sea front, stands an elegant complex of regency buildings. Now the Burgh’s museum, the buildings were built in 1813. Until 1955 these buildings formed the shore station and family living quarters for the light keepers on the Bell Rock Lighthouse which lies 11.5 miles out from Arbroath on a dangerous semi-sunken reef.

Both lighthouse and shore station were built by Robert Stevenson, founder of the famous dynasty of lighthouse engineers

At the Signal Tower you can find out about the fascinating history of the lighthouse, visit the outhouse to see the massive lens of the last manually operated lamp and hear the keeper talk about his day. In addition the museum displays reflect the past lives of the keepers’ families and the wider community of Arbroath and district. Other displays tell the story of Arbroath’s fishing heritage and of its great Industries of textiles and engineering.

The museum also displays the wildlife of the cliffs around the town. Arbroath’s civic treasures and souvenirs of the Burgh’s great trading days complete the tour of the museum.

The museum shop and reception are on the first floor, WCs are available to museum visitors next door to the shop.

Overview of our collections

Arbroath Signal Tower Museum collects artefacts, photographs and archive material relating to the history of Arbroath and District.

The collections are especially representative of the Burgh’s fishing heritage, along with the building’s link with the historic Bell Rock Lighthouse designed by the famous engineer Robert Stevenson (1772 -1850)

Highlights

Bell Rock Lighthouse Lens - This fine eight sided lens from the Bell Rock Lighthouse was used for over 80 years from 1902 as a warning to mariners.
Bell Rock Lighthouse Bell, (1810) - One of two large bronze fog warning bells from the Bell Rock Lighthouse
Book of Signals - A beautifully illustrated and hand drawn book showing the signals using flags and signal balls that were used to signal to the Bell Rock Lighthouse from the Arbroath Signal Tower. This book is signed by Robert Stevenson, engineer to the Bell Rock Lighthouse
Shanks’ Lawnmower (1855) - An early example from the Arbroath company that was to become a leader in the field of lawnmower manufacture.
Arbroath Provost’s Medallion and Chain (1899) - Inscribed with the Arbroath motto ‘Propter Libertatem’ (for the purpose of Liberty). The Arbroath chain of office is a particularly fine example of the regalia of a Scottish Burgh.
Hume Panels, (1819) - Two of a number of painted panels gifted by the radical Montrose-born MP Joseph Hume to the Trade Incorporations of the Angus Burghs.
Elsinore Bowl - A memento of Arbroath’s 19th century trade to the Baltic Ports, from the time when ship’s captains would be gifted items such as this punch bowl to mark their first trip through the Sound of Denmark.
Fisher Souvenir China - Fisher families often collected china souvenirs when following the herring shoals around the coast of Britain, this set of 19th century pieces belonged to an Arbroath fisher family.
Witches Eye - A beautifully crafted blue glass ball from the time when such objects were collected by the fisher men and women. When hung in a window, objects like this were traditionally used to ward off evil spirits.

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