Image: White cylindrical signal tower rising above the courtyard entrance of Arbroath Signal Tower Museum by Colin Park / Geograph, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
The shore station that communicated with the Bell Rock Lighthouse now tells the story of the lighthouse keepers, fishing and the port.
Quick facts
- Date
- Built 1813 after completion of the Bell Rock Lighthouse
- Architect / designer
- Robert Stevenson and associated Northern Lighthouse Board engineers
- Type
- Castellated signal tower and twin entrance lodges
- Designation
- Listed building, Category A (LB21230)
- OS grid reference
- NO 64051 40447
Architecture and continuing use
A four-storey castellated tower rises from the centre of a two-storey house, while paired lodges frame the approach. Classical planning and picturesque details turn an operational base into a civic landmark.
Its story
Completed in 1813, the complex housed families and shore staff supporting Robert Stevenson’s offshore Bell Rock Lighthouse. Signalling and logistics connected the harbour with the rock until technological change ended the original function.
Why it is included
It is Category A and forms a statutory group with the offshore lighthouse, making Arbroath’s role in a celebrated engineering work physically accessible.
What to notice
- Central castellated tower.
- Symmetrical approach between the lodges.
- Views toward the harbour and North Sea.
Reading the surroundings
Check ANGUSalive opening hours. The museum is free, but galleries, stairs and temporary closures may affect access; use the published accessibility information or contact staff if needed.
Timeline
- Built 1813 after completion of the Bell Rock Lighthouse Completed in 1813, the complex housed families and shore staff supporting Robert Stevenson’s offshore Bell Rock Lighthouse. Signalling and logistics connected the harbour with the rock until technological change ended the original function.
- Present Free ANGUSalive museum interpreting Bell Rock, maritime life and Arbroath.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Museum displays and access arrangements can change; the current venue page controls practical information.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Bell Rock Lighthouse Signal Tower, LB21230 — Designation status, mapped location, construction phases, fabric, authorship and architectural or historical interest.
- ANGUSalive: Arbroath Signal Tower Museum — Current museum role, opening hours, address, collections and accessibility information.
- Visit Angus: Signal Tower Museum — Independent visitor context and relationship with the harbour and Bell Rock.
Location
OS grid reference NO 64051 40447 · Location confidence: High: the statutory designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference and the current source confirms the Place relationship or present identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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