Dennis Head Old Beacon

Calls for a lighthouse to be built on the island began in 1740 after the Swedish East Indiaman ship Svecia carrying cargo worth around £200,000 sank off the coast of North Ronaldsay. As a result of the sinking, the first survey of British waters was carried out by hydrographer Murdoch Mackenzie. However, a lighthouse was not approved on the island until the late 18th-century when tensions with France caused trouble for ships crossing the English Channel. Permission was then granted by the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses for a lighthouse at Dennis Head to be built. Construction on the 70 ft tower began in 1788 under the supervision of Thomas Smith assisted by his stepson Robert…

The majority of the lighthouse was constructed using local undressed stone, apart from the corbels and a spiral staircase, the latter of which collapsed in the lighthouse resulting in some projecting stubs from the walls. Two lightkeepers houses was also built beside the western side of tower. However, the houses are currently roofless. After it was extinguished, the light at the top of the tower was replaced with a large masonry ball 8 ft in diameter.