Situated beside Arbroath harbour on the A92. Car and coach parking available nearby. Disabled access difficult. Loop system available. Parties welcome but must book.
Museum open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, all year round. Also open on Sundays, from 2 – 5pm, during July and August. Phone for details of Christmas and New Year opening hours.
No entrance charges.
Arbroath Signal Tower Museum
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 Bell Rock Lighthouse and visit the outhouse to see the massive lens of the last manually operated lamp. In addition, the museum displays reflect the past lives of the keepers’ families and other displays tell the story of Arbroath’s fishing heritage.
The museum shop and reception are on the ground floor, WCs are available to museum visitors.
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
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.
