Bell Rock Lighthouse tartan launched

Over 200 years since its light first shone out across the North Sea, the Bell Rock Lighthouse now has its own tartan. The special tartan was officially launched on Tartan Day, 6 April. The tartan was designed by Steven Patrick Sim of The Tartan Artisan (pictured) who received official approval from the Northern Lighthouse Board who not only endorsed the tartan, but made it their own official tartan.

Steven said: 'I wanted to devise a tartan that reflected the lighthouse's flashing beam of light, a feat which was achieved through careful positioning of the white and grey lines running through the tartan. The muted dark blue and black shades are for the treacherous North Sea at night, while the solid black commemorates the thousands of seafarers who lost their lives on the Inchape Reef's deadly rocks before the Bell Rock Lighthouse was built, as well as the men who lost their lives through the construction of the lighthouse. In addition, there are ninety threads between the black and the white, representing the ninety courses of granite blocks that make up the lighthouse tower.'

The official launch of the tartan was attended by invited guests with connections to the Bell Rock Lighthouse, including Bell Rock Lighthouse expert David Taylor whose great-great-great grandfather played a key part in the construction of the lighthouse. 

(Image copyright Robert France)

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