FIFE COUNCIL

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Subject: / WWI Centenary Commemoration Project: Re-Erection of the Beamer Rock Lighthouse
Version 3: 12-11-2015 / Dates of event/ Incident: / For unveiling in 2018
Contact name: / Douglas Speirs, Archaeologist, Development Plan Team
Details:
Action Taken: / Background:
Commemorative events, memorials and activities are currently being planned across Britain to mark, in 2018, the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI.
Both the UK and the Scottish Governments are encouraging the event to be commemorated.
Recent proposals by Cllrs Morrison and Haffey to mark Fife’s involvement in the 1916 Battle of Jutland have focussed attention on the potential for Fife similarly to explorepossible commemorative events in 2018.

Certain sections within the Council are already working on planned events. For example, Dave Paterson (Area Services manager Levenmouth) is co-ordinating the Council’s rolling programme of commemorative street slabs to mark the five Fife-born WWI Victoria Cross recipients.

This briefing note describes a further WWI commemorative project: the re-erection of the Beamer Rock Lighthouse as a permanent WWI commemorative monument.
This project has been endorsed by Cllrs Morrison and Haffey, and by Keith Winter. Following approval from Cllr Laird and from Robin Presswood, the intention is to take this proposal to the West Area Committee for full approval.
The Beamer Rock Lighthouse
The Beamer Rock Light is a small (c.6m high) Stevenson-built lighthouse originally erected at the request of Inverkeithing town council in 1846 on the Beamer Rock, a small island in the Forth off of Rosyth. Although not listed it is considered to be a nationally important historic building.
The construction of the new Forth Replacement Crossing required the removal of the light. Originally proposed for in situ dynamiting, representations from Fife Council’s Archaeological Unit led to the sensitive down-taking and recording of the light in 2011. It is now in storage at the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors’ yard in Rosyth.
As the legal inheritor of the possessions of both the former autonomous burgh and district councils of Fife, the light is technically and legally the property of Fife Council, although at present, it is in the custody of Transport Scotland which is the client (as representative of the Scottish Government) responsible for delivering the Queensferry Crossing.

Lighthouse as was Lighthouse in storage at Rosyth
Vision
As the authority responsible for the curation of Fife’s non-statutorily protected cultural built heritage, Fife Council has long planned to see the lighthouse re-erected at some suitable location within Fife, and promoted as a cultural, educational and recreational landscape feature of interest.
Given that funds are potentially available for projects that seek to conserve built heritage, and from separate funding streams, for projects intended to commemorate the centenary of WWI in 2018, there is the opportunity to marry two objectives together and to deliver a conserved and re-erected lighthouse that would serve as a WWI commemorative monument.
Indeed, considering the role of landscape monuments in place-making, there is the real potential for the re-erected lighthouse to serve as an informal Gateway to Fife monument, and to link the monumentwitha series of North Queensferry Heritage Trust proposed heritage path trails (focussed the Battle of Inverkeithing).This little known but nationally important battle between Cromwell and Scotland was fought in the Ferryhills in July, 1652. The complete annihilation of the Scottish army led immediately to the Cromwellian subjugation and occupation of Scotland. Indeed, this defeat led to Scotland’s immediate assimilation into Cromwell’s Protectorate until the Restoration in 1660.
Project Details
North Queensferry Heritage Trust approached Fife Council in 2014 for assistance and advice regarding a proposal to re-erect the lighthouse somewhere in the North Queensferry area. Assistance and advice was duly given and a site was agreed.
After a slow start to the project it was agreed in 2015 that to achieve maximum access to support and funding it would be advantageous ifthe project were to be progressed in partnership with Fife Council. The NQHT Trustees unanimously supported the partnership project proposal and recently confirmed that it is keen to work with the Council to deliver a project based on the understanding:
That the Beamer Rock Light be re-erected as a monument to those lost at sea during WWI*** and that the monument be unveiled as a WWI commemorative memorial/Gateway to Fife Monument as part of a civic Fife Council/NQHT event planned to fit in with the nationwide programme of WWI centenary commemorative events planned for 2018
*** The exact dedication to be agreed by the Beamer Light WWI Commemoration Project Board.
Location
A prominent spot on the Ferryhills Road Bridge cutting has been chosen for the erection of the monument. The site has been chosen for a number of reasons but principally because the elevated site will be highly visible to users of both the existing road Road Bridge and the new Queensferry Crossing. The preferred site will enable what is a relatively small structure to appear as a prominent beacon in the landscape (all the more visible at night when illuminated).
The site is owned by Fife Council.Both Parks & Recreation, and Law & Admin, have consented to its re-erection. Transportation has also consented to supplying and maintaining a power supply to the re-erected lighthouse (for uplighting purposes rather than for mounting a light atop the structure, although nothing has been ruled in or out at this stage).

  • The site is owned by Fife Council
  • The site is on a public path and has good access
  • The site overlooks the original site of the Beamer Rock. This inter-visibility preserves landscape linkage/views to the original site of the Beamer Rock and would thus permit intelligible interpretation
  • The site is close to Fife Council street lighting, so a power connection to illuminate the monument can be installed


Indicative idea of installed monument as it might appear to motorists
(height, lighting and final finishes to be agreed in the design process)
The intention will be to create a circular hard standing with an octagonal stepped plinth. The lighthouse will stand on top of the plinth. Around the circumference of the plinth could be a bronze or stone band with an inscription or the names of the battle dead etc. The lighthouse could be stripped back to sandstone to give the appearance of a tower/folly or could be re-painted in its original lighthouse colours.

Proposed Heritage Path Trails linking to monument
Completed Feasibility Study Actions
  • A site has been agreed with the North Queensferry Heritage Trust and the NQ Community Council (owned by Fife Council’s Parks & Recreation)
  • Permission with Parks has been agreed to use the Dog Fouling enclosure, which is close to the site, as a temporary site compound for stone storage (the NQHT and NQ CC have been informed)
  • Scottish Natural Heritage has indicated its support for the project (the site is within a SSSI). An ecological impact assessment has been undertaken.
  • Parks & Recreation has agreed to cut back some ofthe scrub woodland on the site to increase visibility to and from the site
  • Following best practice, and as an ecological mitigation measure, a nearby area of ground, equivalent to that which will be removed, has been earmarked for scrub woodland re-planting
  • Historic Scotland has indicated its support for the project (the site is within an Inventory Battlefield Site area)
  • The NQ Community Council, Edinburgh Airport and a range of other consultees have given their support for the project.
  • An intrusive geotechnical assessment has been completed to test the site and to demonstrate its suitability for development
  • Transportation Services has agreed to supply lightingto illuminate the monument from itsnearbystreetlights
  • Property Services has agreed to manage the tendering process and the appointment of a suitably qualified conservation building contractor
  • Preliminary conservation discussions have been held with an accredited conservation architect (the lighthouse stones will need treatment, paint removal, a spec for the lime mortar, stabilisation of embedded rusting iron etc
  • Transport Scotland has agreed to deliver the stones to site (which they cost as anin-kindproject contribution worth £7,000).
  • Early funding conversations with Historic Scotland look promising, although no more than £10k is likely to be made available.
  • Early funding conversations with the Crown Estate Commission indicate a willingness to fund interpretation (indicative contribution, £5k)
  • HLF-funded plans for the heritage trails that will link to the monument have been advanced by NQHT and an in-principle funding has been secured.
Actions Underway
  • A certificate of lawfulness is in preparation
  • A committee report to seek approval from the West Area Committee will be prepared following a mandate from Cllr Laird and Robin Presswoodto proceed (Legal has advised that this Committee’s approval will stand as the Council’s mandate for the legal adoption/ownership of the monument)
Actions Pending
  • Meeting with the Heritage Lottery'sFirst World War: Then and Now Grants Scheme to be confirmed
  • Meeting with the Fife Environment Trust to be confirmed
  • Meeting with the Coastal Communities Fundto be confirmed.
  • Prepare a funding application for the South West Fife Area Local Community Planning Budget
Project Costs
The several elements required to deliver a re-erected monument to a state ready for public unveiling have been costed at £56,000. However, enhanced design elements, should they be desired, will increase this baseline figure.
The exact project cost cannot, therefore, be calculated until a final design has been prepared. However, in order to deliver a high-end finished product that incorporates the best materials, finishing, lighting and supporting infrastructure (such as benches and interpretation boards) it would be advisable in grant applications to work towards an approximate global figure of £75,000 or more.
As mentioned above, Transport Scotland has already agreed to deliver the stones to site (which they cost as anin-kind project contribution worth £7,000).Early funding conversations with Historic Scotland look promising, although no more than £10k is likely to be made available.Early funding conversations with the Crown Estate Commission indicate a willingness to fund interpretation (indicative contribution, £5k).
A range of potential funding bodies have been identified should a mandate to progress this project be forthcoming. The Heritage Lottery'sFirst World War: Then and Now Grants Scheme, the Fife Environment Trust,Historic Scotland, Transport Scotland, the Crown Estate Commission, the Coastal Communities Fund and the Northern Lighthouse Board are all potential sources of funding.
However, a starting contribution from Fife Council (perhaps from the SW Fife Area Local Community Planning Budget) would make the starting point from which to win external funding much easier.
DraftGovernance Model
Beamer Light WWI Commemoration Project Board
Cllr Kay Morrison (Depute Provost, FC), Cllr Charles Haffey (FC) , Robin Presswood (FC) (and others as instructed by Robin Presswood)
↑
Project Manager
Douglas Speirs supported by colleagues across the Council to report to Project Board quarterly or as required should issues arise
Actions
  • Paper to be prepared for the West Area Committee following approval by Cllr Laird.
  • Beamer Light WWI Commemoration Project Board to ratify or amend Board membership and thedraft Governance Structure.
  • Beamer Light WWI Commemoration Project Board to consider the nature of the dedication of the monument.
There are many possible options eg a dedication to all British service personnel lost during WWI, all Fife civilians lost during WWI, all those lost at sea during WWI, Fifers lost at sea during WWI etc. The fact that the monument is a lighthouse may make a naval/sea connection more appropriate. An early indication of the dedication would help target grant applications.
A public competition for the dedication and/or naming of the monument might help promote the project and champion community involvement.
Should the dedication have a GermanWWI connection, then grant sources may be available for the exchange of school students/youth groups “to bring young people of the UK and Germany together to facilitate an exchange of ideas, joint learning and open discussions on topics related to World War One (this is the basis of awards made under the UK-German Connection Fund).
Responsible Officer(s): / Douglas Speirs, Archaeologist, Development Plan Team
Authorised By: / Date:
Designation: / Senior Manager / Contact Tel No:
Approved by Head of Service / Robin Presswood / Date: / 12thNovember, 2015

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