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Fife Ness harbour
Balcomie, Fife

Bell Rock Lighthouse construction site, Fife Ness Harbour, Balcomie, Fife
A wide view looking down on the ruined harbour and the rings cut into the rock by Robert Stevenson to aid in the construction of the North Carr Beacon in 1813-16.


Bell Rock Lighthouse construction site, Fife Ness Harbour, Balcomie, Fife
The straight lines on the right running up to the old quayside were for rail tracks to transport the stones from the test bed to the boats.


Bell Rock Lighthouse construction site, Fife Ness Harbour, Balcomie, Fife
The small rings were probably cut to test the steel parts of the construction and the larger semi-circles were to fit the stones together to check for size before moving them by boat over to the rock, 2kn offshore.


Bell Rock Lighthouse construction site, Fife Ness Harbour, Balcomie, Fife
The annotation gives you an idea of the sizes and depths of the cuts.


Bell Rock Lighthouse construction site, Fife Ness Harbour, Balcomie, Fife
As you can see, there were difficulties with the site chosen.


Bell Rock Lighthouse construction site, Fife Ness Harbour, Balcomie, Fife
Two ground-level views, at low tide and near a full spring tide.


Bell Rock Lighthouse construction site, Fife Ness Harbour, Balcomie, Fife
The old customs and coastguard cottage is to the left. The rings are just below and right of the exact centre of this image, close by the information board.