Thursday 27 August 2015

GOOD FENCES - Ailsa Craig Island (Part 10)

There were many ‘fences’ in the form of stone walls on Ailsa Craig Island so I hope you enjoy seeing what I found on our short time on the island today.


Lighthouse

The Lighthouse was built between 1883 and 1886 by Thomas Stevenson; it is owned by the Northern Lighthouse Board.

The lighthouse was automated in 1990 and converted to solar electric power in 2001; the island has been uninhabited since automation in 1990.  Ailsa Craig and its lighthouse feature extensively in Peter Hill's book Stargazing: 
Memoirs of a Young Lighthouse Keeper.










The gas works are still a prominent feature on the island and the cable powered tramway was partly built to haul wagons full of coal up to it from the North Port. Two gasometers held the coal gas that powered both the compressed air pump and the lighthouse light, however in 1911 the light was converted to incandescent lighting which was powered by electricity.The gas works became redundant at this time. Lawson records that oil was used to produce the gas for the lighthouse light.


Curling stones
From the mid-nineteenth century the island has been quarried for its rare type of micro-granite with riebeckite (known as "Ailsite"), which is used to make stones for the sport of curling. As of 2004, 60–70 per cent of all curling stones in use were made from granite from the island and is one of only two sources for all stones in the sport, the other being the Trefor Granite Quarry in Wales.


Ailsa Craig produced two types of granite for curling, Blue Hone and Ailsa Craig Common Green. Blue Hone has very low water absorption, which prevents the action of repeatedly freezing water from eroding the stone.   Ailsa Craig Common Green is a lesser quality granite than Blue Hone. In the past, most curling stones were made from Blue Hone but the quarry is restricted by environmental conditions that exclude blasting.


Kays of Scotland has been making curling stones since 1851 and has the exclusive rights to the Ailsa Craig granite, granted by the Marquess of Ailsa. The last "harvest" of Ailsa Craig granite by Kays took place in 2013, after a hiatus of 11 years; 2,000 tons were harvested, sufficient to fill anticipated orders until at least 2020!







We had our lunch sitting outside the Lighthouse.  This was one of the party trying to find a ‘loo’ spot.  When I went looking within the lighthouse building complex, I was amazed to find rooms still with beds and bedding, furniture and a loo!  
It was if everyone had left in a great hurry!



We only had about 1 1/2 hours on the island and after lunch I walked to the right hand side where there were gulls with their young which I will show you tomorrow.


CLICK HERE if the video does not appear below. 



I hope you enjoyed this part of the journey round the coast of Ailsa Craig as we finally pull into the jetty.

I am linking this post with GOOD FENCES.

Many thanks for visiting and also to all those who leave comments.

32 comments:

  1. What a fascinating place - loved learning about the curling stones too. Thank you.

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  2. Very informative and interesting Margaret. I bet there haven't been too many others who have walked round Ailsa Craig. I didn't know that you could do that. You must have been foundered and sore after your fast 'bouncy castle' speed boat trip getting there and then back! Hope you had a big flask of tea! What's next on your 'bucket list'? Apsailing down Scrabo Tower perhaps! lol Tom

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    1. Hi Tom well I had to laugh at the end of your comment however i assure you I will NOT be abseiling down Scrabo Tower. No I was not foundered as you put it, as i was really prepared with warm clothes and as far as the boat goes, it was not like a bouncy castle. Going i stood the whole way as I did not want to miss anything or be sea sick although comig back I did sit on one of the back seats so if I saw anythiing i could jump up and view it better. I am sure they will do more trips next year. it is worth doing Tom. Where are you going to see so many Gannets again?

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    2. I think a wee trip to the Copelands or Rathlin would just do me well. I've done both. I'll leave the Bear Gryliss stuff to you and your team! lol

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  3. I think a wee trip to the Copelands or Rathlin would just do me well. I've done both. I'll leave the Bear Gryliss stuff to you and your team! lol

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  4. Hello Margaret, I enjoyed this post and all the images. I like hearing the sounds of the birds on your video. The island and lighthouse are a beautiful! Have a happy day!

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  5. How long were you on the island? You wrote 11/12 hours? Such a fascinating place. I will have to look it up on google dart now.

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    1. HI Marcia Sorry thlat was a 'typo' mistake. I have amended it now and it read - 1 1/2 hours - that is one and a half hours. Thanks for pointing this error out to me and I am glad you are enjoying the posts about Ailsa Craig.

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  6. a ton of rock available for those stone walls! love the red gates, too. neat lighthouse.

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  7. I am astonished that there was so much industry on Ailsa Craig! Thank you Margaret for such educational and informative posts with super photos of the lighthouse and the walls and gates.

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  8. A beautiful light house with so many interesting features! Haven't seen many red gates around here. Thanks for taking us on your outing here!

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  9. Interesting, an old fashioned lighthouse with solar panels. I would love to explore this place.

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  10. Parts of that lighthouse remind me of a castle. I enjoyed your brief video. It took me right into the scene in a way that a picture cannot.

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  11. Hi Margaret!
    Love visit your blog! You took beautiful pictures and share amazing places too.
    I like so much Lighthouses.
    The header picture is just stunning!
    Wishing you and yours a nice weekend. :)

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  12. This is quite an interesting place. I was glad to see the lighthouse having some solar panels - even though it doesn't look very sunny!

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  13. I love the tracks--- I could spend all day snapping away in this place.

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  14. What a fascinating place. - It's a shame that no one inhabits the island now and that the building are in disrepair. I liked the lighthouse very much and the red gate was so cool. Your photos really told a great story.

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  15. That is so interesting about the curling stones. We have a couple of old ones about the place so I will have to dig them out and take a look at a piece of the Island!

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  16. great pictures Margaret, i like that rusty winch.

    peter

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  17. Such a wild and interesting place! Beautiful lighthouse and I will have to look for the book. I love auto-biographies. It is also interesting about the curling stones. Have a nice day!

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  18. Perfect Margaret, just perfect.

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  19. Interesting about the curling stones coming from this island. Enjoyed the photos and information!

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  20. a great place to visit. Love the lighthouse :) Now I wait for the birds :)

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  21. The photographs really give a sense of abandonment and almost a ghostly feel. A fantastic read as always.

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  22. What a fascinating place. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post.

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  23. Enjoyed this wonderful tour. What a great place to visit.

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  24. What a wonderful and interesting post. Great pics and thanks for sharing about the curling stones. Wonderful photos. Have a nice weekend, cm

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  25. Love the old stone walls and the lighthouse!!!!

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  26. Such an interesting place! Thanks for taking us along, Margaret.
    ~

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  27. Wonderful series of images. Love the lighthouse, the old stone walls. Looks so desolate there and can almost feel a chill. Was it cold that day?

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  28. great shots and very interesting informations!

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  29. Very interesting shots!
    Happy weekend
    Crissi

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