Letter from John Clyne

17^th June 1907

Sir,

I beg to inform you that the Military Authorities have taken down about the half of the Lighthouse wire fence leading from the Station to the Horn-house and are shifting it back to the edge of the cliffs for the better defence they say of the Island. There is no word of shifting our path nor do I think it would be any advantage to us if they did.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant

John Clyne

Inchkeith Lighthouse

15^th November 1907, Letter to NLB

Sir,

In connection with the defence of Inchkeith it is necessary to provide an additional range finding instrument to serve the 9.2 inch B.L. gun at the North of the Island.

The most suitable site for this instrument is just inside the walled enclosure of the Lighthouse, about 2 yards to the North of the main Lighthouse building.

The range finder would be mounted on a concrete pedestal about 2 feet square and 4 feet high; no other buildings would be erected.

It is requested, please, that your Commissioners may be asked whether there would be any objection to this proposal.

I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Obedient Servant

A.M. Newton

Brigadier General

Commander Scotland Coastal Defence

PC showing address of "Leith Fort"

Inchkeith Lighthouse

NLB Letter to Coastal Command

Sir,

Admission to Inchkeith

Your letter of the 17^th Inst on this subject having been laid before the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses I am directed to reply to it as follows:

The only regulation regarding persons landing on Inchkeith on Lighthouse business is that they must be in the lighthouse service uniform, or be provided with Official passes. There is no exception to this rule.

In reply to the questions in you letter, I am to state:-

Three lightkeepers with their families, or housekeepers, live on the Island. The Keepers reside permanently at the station, except during a fortnight’s leave annually, and neither they nor their families have passes unless these are specially applied for. Lightkeepers in uniform do not require passes.
The Keepers have no servants.
and 5. Friends may visit and reside for short periods with Keepers, but must be provided with passes. As the keepers are confined to the Island for fifty weeks in the year, this privilege cannot be entirely withdrawn, so long as the Station is administered on the present system, but it is taken advantage of only to a very limited extent.
The tradesemen with whom the Keepers deal never land on the Island. The Commissioners occasionally find it necessary to send tradesmen or mechanics to effect repairs, but these are always provided with passes.
As a general rule all the persons included in 1 to 5 are confined to the one landing and path and to the lighthouse premises including the path to the Fogsignal hornhouse; but occasionally in bad weather, Lightkeepers or Officials have to be landed or taken off at the East side of the Island by the Commissioners’ Steamers. The great majority of the persons visiting or leaving the Lighthouse are carried on the War Office Steamer.
7. The Official Secrets Act is not displayed on the Commissioners Premises, but this will be done if it is considered desirable. In any event the Lightkeepers will be warned of the absolute necessity for secrecy regarding all particulars of Armament etc.
The Commissioners do not see their way to surrender their right of issuing passes, but they are prepared to embody in them such conditions as may be agreed upon as being necessary, and to make them so distinctive that your sentries cannot fail to recognize them at a glance. As passes have occasionally to be issued in circumstances which would render it impracticable to communicate with your Office, and as in any event the Commissioners alone can judge whether it is necessary or desirable that any particular person should be admitted to the Lighthouse, there would be difficulties in the way of having the passes issued from the Military Headquarters and there would apparently be no compensating advantage in that being done. The great majority of the passes issued by the Commissioners are available on one occasion only, and must be delivered up to the sentry on landing if required, and this appears to be a safer and more satisfactory arrangement than having the large number of permanent passes which would be necessary to provide for all contingencies, with the attendant risk of their getting into wrong hands. At present there is only one permanent pass – that held by the medical attendant for the Station, and if the passes continue to be issued as at present there is no reason why in ordinary circumstances, the number of permanent passes should be increased, unless it is desired by your Office that they should be carried by Officials even when in uniform in which case three or four would probably be sufficient. It may be stated that the number of passes issued within the year preceding this date was 20. Of these, 16 were for Officials or mechanics or others accompanying Officials of lighthouse business; and 4 were for visitors to the Lightkeepers, but in every case, the visitor was also a member of this Service. The Commissioners desire me to add that they recognize the importance of this question from the point of view of national defence, and they are prepared to do everything in their power to meet your views which does not conflict with the public interest committed to their charge.

From NLB to GOC, Scottish Coastal Defence 25 June 1908

Sir,

Inchkeith

I am now directed to transmit for your information two copies of each of the Passes which will be issued from this Office in connection with Inchkeith Lighthouse viz:

GREEN PASS – for the Commissioners and Headquarters Staff

BLUE PASS – to be carried by persons residing permanently at the Station, including Lightkeepers when not in uniform.

A list of the persons to whom Permanent Passes have been issued will be forwarded shortly.

RED PASS – for Temporary residents – such as mechanics and other tradesmen.

This Pass may also be used to a limited extent by friends and relations visiting the Lightkeepers, but it will be issued principally to workmen, and it has therefore been found impracticable to give effect to the alterations proposed by you.

YELLOW PASS – for Visitors on Lighthouse business.

I am Sir,

Your obedient Servant

C. Dick Peddie, Secretary

From NLB to GOC, Scottish Coastal Defence, 30 June 1908

Sir,

Inchkeith Passes

With Reference to my letter of the 25inst., I now beg to inform you that the persons to whom Permanent (Blue) Passes have been issued are as follows:

Mr John Clyne, Principal Lightkeeper

Mr Thos. Leask, Assistant Lightkeeper

Mr David R Milne, Assistant Lightkeeper

Mrs Clyne, Wife of Principal Lightkeeper

Miss Charlotte Clyne, daughter of Principal Lightkeeper

Mrs Leask, Wife of Assistant Lightkeeper

Miss Milne, Sister of Assistant Lightkeeper

Dr James Wilson, 53 Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, Medical Attendant for the Station

I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant

C. Dick Peddie, Sec’y

Inchkeith Lighthouse

Letter from John Clyne PLK, to NLB 21 July 1908

Sir,

I beg to inform you that during battle practice with the big guns today that the concussion has caused the whole of the slates on one side of the roof of the old workshop and store to slide at least inches down, also broke 3 panes of glass in Mr Milne’s house windows and one in the engine house. There was no damage done to the Lantern or Lighting apparatus.

I am, Sir,

Your Obedient Servant,

John Clyne

Claims and enquiries followed, including statement form John Clyne on 18 August 1908

Sir,

Regarding the enclosed letter I cannot do otherwise than endorse the Statement of the Royal Engineers.

On the Spring voyage of the “Pharos” I had to draw the attention of the Superintendent to the state of the said roof; that it was leaky and that all the wood seemed rotten, he then ordered me to try and get something done to stop the leaks at as little expense as possible till he could see afterwards what could be done with it. The likely bad places had been repaired but whither it was made watertight or not, we had not the chance of knowing before the present damage was done, it leaks badly now.

I am. Sir,

Your obedient Servant

John Clyne

Inchkeith Lighthouse

4^th June 1909

Sir

I beg to inform you that during the big gun practice today a large portion of the ceiling of the kitchen of Mr Leask’s house has fallen, also the plaster on both sides of the partition wall between his room and his bedroom is rent and broken.

The damage to kitchen ceiling and partition wall is that bad I don’t think it will repair, both ceiling and wall plaster will need to be entirely renewed or lined with board.

I am,

Your Obedient Servant

John Clyne

To Secretary

Northern Lighthouse Board

Edinburgh

A second letter from John Clyne to NLC re battle damage

Sir

I beg to inform you that battle practice with the big guns took place today and more damage has been done, principally to the ceiling of the old store, more plaster has come down in Mr Leask’s house and as it is, it is very uncomfortable to live in. I think it would be better if an Officer visited the Station and saw the state of affairs for himself.

I am, Sir,

Your Obedient Servant

John Clyne

To The Secretary, NLC, Edinburgh

A letter was then sent from the NLB to the War Office asking if they would pay for the damages.

Head Quarters Scottish Command

22, North Bridge Street

Edinburgh

3^rd August 1909

Inchkeith

Sir,

With reference to your letter of the 1st July 1909, re damage to the Lightkeepers houses at Inchkeith, I have to inform you that as the damage was consequent upon the reasonable use of the battery, the War Department cannot admit liability for damage due to such.

Yours faithfully

H M Sinclair

Colonel

Chief Engineer Scottish Command

Inchkeith Lighthouse

A Third Letter from John Clyne re Battle practice damage

Inchkeith Lighthouse

20^th June 1910

Sir

I beg to inform you that today during battle practice with the big guns some damage has been done to the premises.

The lower sash of Mrs Milne’s pantry window is badly broken. 3 of the wooden astragals and 5 panes of glass are broken. The astragals will need to be renewed before the window can be reglazed, other 3 panes of glass is broken in the same dwelling house and a lot more of the ceiling of the old store has fallen.

No damage so far as we can see has come to the tower or the lantern.

I am,

Sir ,

Your Obedient Servant,

John Clyne

To Secretary NLB, Edinburgh

Inchkeith Lighthouse

Letter from John Clyne

Inchkeith Lighthouse

18^th January 1910

Sir

In case Captain Ewing should make a landing on the east side of the Island after dark as he has done on previous occasions, I beg to inform you that due to recently constructed rifle pits and barbed wire put up by the Military Authorities for defensive purposes, it is positively dangerous to life and limb to go from the station to the East landing after dark.

There is no road, only a beaten path over the grass and it is now partly covered up with excavations out of the rifle pits.

If a landing is to be made on the east side after dark a road with a rail as a guide would need to be put up to make it safe.

I am

Sir

Your Obedient Servant

John Clyne

To Secretaty NLB

Edinburgh

Inchkeith Lighthouse

In 1903 there was a good deal of correspondence regarding the arrival of the Coast Guard Detachment and the Military on the Island.

There was debate as to whether the buildings they were putting up would obscure the light in any way.

29^th August 1903

Sir

The Commissioners have now considered your letter of the 25^th ulto and they are willing to dispone to the Admiralty the ground on Inchkeith required for a coast guard station at a price of £90 for the ground coloured red on the plan, of £60 for the ground at present let to the Admiralty with the addition of the experimental tower, or £150 in all. The sale would be subject to the following conditions:-

1. The Commissioners must reserve a right to access of their property by a road about 7 or 8 feet in width through the place of the ground coloured red on the plan and the Admiralty must erect at their own cost and to the satisfaction of the Commissioners a gate at the point marked A on the plan, which gate will become the property of the Commissioners.

2. The buildings to be erected by the Admiralty must not in any way obstruct the light shewn from the lighthouse nor interfere with the outlook kept by the Lightkeepers, and in these respects the buildings must be subject to the approval of the Commisioners.

3. The Commissioners are willing to include the Experimental Tower in the subjects disponed to the Admiralty without additional money payment, but in consideration of this the Admiralty would have to erect for the Commissioners on their property and to their satisfaction a brick or stone store about 15 feet long and 9 feet wide and 9’6” high with necessary door, window and shelving.

4. The retaining and boundary walls of the subjects disponed to the Admiralty would cease to be the property of the Commissioners except in so far as they serve as boundary walls between the Commissioners’ ground and that disponed to the Admiralty. In the later case the walls would remain the property of the Commissioners but the cost of their maintenance would be borne by them and the Admiralty mutually.

I may mention that in the terms of the Commissioners’ title, the superior – now the War Office – has, in the event of the Lighthouse being abandoned and the property – including the portions of ground now in question – being for disposal, a right of pre-emption and it may be advisable for the Admiralty to communicate with the War Office before accepting a formal disposition of the subjects. The plans or tracings are returned herewith.

I am, Sir, Your Obedient Servant

C Dick Peddie

Secretary

W Bowden

HM Coastguard

Brough Ferry

Northern Lighthouse Board

84 George Street

Edinburgh

16^th February 1904

Dear Sir

Inchkeith

I have looked into the question of whether the houses proposed to be built by the Admiralty on Inchkeith will interfere with the visibility of the light from sea. With the information before me I am unable to say definitely whether what is proposed will do so or not as the level of the base of the houses as compared with that of the Lighthouse Tower is not shown on the plans submitted. If, however, the highest point of the three blocks of houses shown on the plans are kept not higher than 22 feet above the pavement at the base of the lighthouse, the light will be visible just outside the Long Craig and this I am of opinion would be satisfactory. By the highest point I mean not merely the ridge but the chimney tops.

It is unfortunate that these three houses, the smoke from the chimneys of which may occasionally tend to obscure the light, have to be placed so close to the Lighthouse, but I do not think it will be found to seriously affect the light.

Yours faithfully

DA Stevenson

C Dick Peddie

Secretary

Northern Lighthouse Board

Letter from the Sanitary Officer, Scottish Command to the Principal Medical Officer, Scottish Command

14^th August 1908

Sir,

I have the honour to bring to your notice the following defect with regard to the catchment area for drinking water at Inchkeith. The Catchment Area is a wired-in concreted space. It is situated below the Lighthouse and Coast Guard Station and is only separated from the latter by a narrow path. In the Coast Guard Station, there are three dry earth closets. The buckets for these are emptied daily. The Coast Guard men who empty them have to carry them past a corner of their own Catchment Area for drinking water, out of their front gate and up the narrow path past the Military Catchment Area before they can dispose of its contents. There is no other means of exit for this.

I think it is a most unsatisfactory condition of affairs and one fraught with danger, that night soil should be carried daily so close to the catchment area.

During rainy and windy weather there is a grave possibility of contaminating the only source of pure drinking water both for the Coast Guards themselves and for the Troops at Inchkeith. Moreover, I think the remedy is simple. The earth closets in use at the Coast Guard Station and also those at the Lighthouse, could easily be converted into Wash Down Closets with a water system of drainage.

This would at once obviate the danger of polluting the drinking water.

The Chief Official at the Coast Guard Station to whom I spoke seemed to think that there would be sufficient water to supply all the necessary water closets. Even if this were not the case, water could be obtained by pumping from the spring which already supplies water to the ablution rooms and latrines for the troops. It is a brackish water and not fit for drinking.

If you concur, I beg to recommend that this report may be forwarded so that the necessary action may be taken.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

(Sgd) A.H. Morris, Major, R.A.M.C.

Sanitary Officer, Scottish Command

Various correspondence back and forth amongst NLB, Engineers and Sanitary Dept, culminating in following letter from NLB.

Sir,

Inchkeith Sanitary Arrangements

With reference to you letter of the 3^rd December last and previous correspondence, I am directed by the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses to state that having given the whole matter their careful consideration and having obtained Estimates of the probable cost of the proposed drainage scheme, they regret that they do not see their way to co-operate in it.

The Commissioners are fully alive to the necessity for taking all possible steps to avoid risk of contamination to the Military water supply, but they notice that the complaint by the Sanitary Officer, Scottish Command, refers only to the Coast Guard Station, and they believe that the situation of the Lighthouse privies and the method of disposing of the soil from them preclude any danger of their injuriously affecting the water catchment area.

The Commissioners are informed that it would be impracticable to connect water closets at the Lighthouse with any existing sewer, and that a separate drain would therefore have to be led down to the sea. Including half the cost of the windmill and water pipes as set forth in your letter of the 3^rd ulto the cost of converting the earth closets to water closets would not be less than £270, and the Commissioners do not feel justified in expending this sum on an alteration which would be of doubtful advantage to their own Station, and would, they believe, do nothing to insure the purity of the Military water supply.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

(Sgd) C. Dick Peddie, Secretary

The admiralty sent a plan with proposed position of a Windpump to raise water to a storage tank. This also involved laying a wrought iron pipe. This is the letter from John Clyne on its completion.

Inchkeith Lighthouse

25^th March 1910

Sir

I beg to inform you that the pipe track referred to in the accompanying sketch is now completed, the track filled in and the turf again laid in a satisfactory manner.

I am Sir

Your Obedient Servant

John Clyne

To Secretary NLB, Edinburgh

Inchkeith Lighthouse

Letter from John Clyne to NLB 6 Oct 1908

Sir,

In view of the large amount of Fog and Mist we are having, I am getting anxious about the unsatisfactory state that No 1 Engine is in. I have run all the Fog since the 1^st August on No 2 & 3 Engines, but if anything material was to happen to either of them, I am afraid I could not take a long run out of No 1 in the state it is.

I am, Sir,

Your Obedient Servant

John Clyne

Memo at foot of letter

Mr Munro instructed to proceed to Inchkeith whenever he finished Isle of Man Stations

7.10.08

Inchkeith Lighthouse

A letter was received from Secretary NLB giving permission to call in the Occasional Keeper as there had been many days of fog. This is John Clyne’s reply

Inchkeith Lighthouse

18^th January 1910

Sir

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 13^th inst granting us the right to call in the Occasional Keeper after long spells of fog so that we can get some rest.

We are sincerely thankful for the privilege conferred on to us.

I will put the letter in the scrapbook as instructed.

I am

Sir

Your Obedient Servant

John Clyne

Inchkeith Lighthouse