Local History What's New Angus Museums Arbroath Signal Tower Museum Webcam

Arbroath Signal Tower Museum
Ladyloan
Arbroath
DD11 1PU

T: 01241 435329
E: signal.tower@angus.gov.uk

Situated beside Arbroath harbour on the A92. Car and coach parking available nearby.
Disabled access difficult. Loop system available.
Parties welcome but must book.

Tuesday to Saturday 10.00 - 17.00 all year, (closed Monday)
Closed 25 & 26 December 2013 and 1 & 2 January 2014

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.

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