Signal Tower Museum facts for kids
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| Established | Built 1813 Council Housing 1955-1974 Museum 1974-present |
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| Location | Arbroath Signal Tower Museum, Ladyloan, Arbroath, DD11 1PU |
The Signal Tower is a cool museum located in the coastal town of Arbroath, Angus, Scotland. It has a long and interesting history!
Contents
How the Signal Tower Helped a Famous Lighthouse
The Signal Tower was built way back in 1813. Its main job was to be the land base for the famous Bell Rock Lighthouse. This lighthouse was built on a dangerous rock far out at sea.
The tower was home to the families of the lighthouse keepers who worked on the rock. It also housed the shore staff. These staff members managed the special boat, called a lighthouse tender, that brought supplies to the lighthouse.
Talking to the Lighthouse
The name "Signal Tower" comes from the special equipment on top of the building. This equipment was used to send messages between the shore staff and the lighthouse keepers. The lighthouse itself had the exact same signalling equipment.
Inside the Signal Tower, there was a small observatory. It had a powerful telescope. People used this telescope to watch the signals from the lighthouse during the day. Back then, there was no wireless communication like we have today. The ball system used by the Bell Rock was considered very advanced technology!
The signalling system worked with a large ball that was moved up and down a tall pole. Every morning, between 9 AM and 10 AM, someone on shore would watch for the signal. If everything was okay at the lighthouse, the keepers would hoist the ball to the top of their pole. If it was foggy, they would check again at 1 PM.
If the ball stayed down, it usually meant a big problem. This could be a shortage of food or a lighthouse keeper being very sick. In such cases, the supply boat would quickly sail out to the lighthouse to help. By 1955, new technology like helicopters and faster boats meant the lighthouse staff could be managed from Leith.
Daily Life and Messages
Local fishing boats from Arbroath often helped out. They would bring newspapers, fresh rolls, and other small items to the lighthouse keepers. They also carried messages back to the shore station. This was either for the boat master or as a favor to the keepers.
From Homes to History
After the Northern Lighthouse Board no longer needed the building, it was given to the Arbroath Town Council. For about 15 years, starting in 1955, the Signal Tower was used as council housing. Families lived there just like in regular homes!
Then, in the 1970s, the building was changed again. It was turned into the museum we know today.
Exploring the Signal Tower Museum
After its time as homes, the building became a museum. It focuses on the history of Arbroath and the area around it. Arbroath, like Dundee, was once a big center for processing jute. Jute is a plant fiber used to make things like ropes and bags.
Many famous companies were based in Arbroath. These included Shanks Lawnmowers, Giddings + Lewis-Fraser, and Keith & Blackman. The museum has lots of items and papers from Shanks. You can see old lawnmowers they made! There are also documents, photos, and company logos from Giddings + Lewis-Fraser and Keith & Blackman.
Lighthouse and Fishing Stories
Besides the exhibits about manufacturing, the Signal Tower Museum also has many displays about the Bell Rock Lighthouse. You can see a smaller version, called a scale model, of the Inchcape Rock with the lighthouse on it. There's even one of the original light parts that used to be inside the lighthouse!
The museum also has many exhibits about the fishing industry. You can see models of different fishing boats that used to be in Arbroath harbour. There is also information about how fishing and fish processing worked in the town.
Nature and Walks
If you love walking, the museum has useful information for you too. It provides details about the many nature trails around Arbroath. You can learn about the local wildlife and beautiful scenery.
