Barrel of Butter

For the literal meaning, see barrel (unit) and butter.
Barrel of Butter

The navigation light on Barrel of Butter
Location
Barrel of Butter
Barrel of Butter shown within Orkney
OS grid reference HY351008
Physical geography
Island group Orkney
Administration
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Country Scotland
Council area Orkney Islands
References [1][2]
Barrel of Butter Lighthouse

The navigation light on Barrel of Butter
Orkney
Location Barrel of Butter
Scapa Flow
Orkney
Scotland
United Kingdom
Coordinates 58°53′25″N 3°07′35″W / 58.890415°N 3.126391°W / 58.890415; -3.126391Coordinates: 58°53′25″N 3°07′35″W / 58.890415°N 3.126391°W / 58.890415; -3.126391
Year first constructed 1980
Automated 1980
Construction masonry tower, metal platform
Tower shape conical frustum tower with platform and light
Markings / pattern unpainted tower, grey platform
Height 6 metres (20 ft)
Focal height 6 metres (20 ft)
Light source solar power
Characteristic Fl (2) W 10s.
Admiralty number A3635
NGA number 3172
ARLHS number SCO-017
Managing agent Northern Lighthouse Board[3]

The Barrel of Butter, formerly known as Carlin Skerry, is a skerry situated in Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands.

Geography and geology

The rock is old red sandstone of the Devonian period. There is no soil of any significance on it.[1]

Located in Scapa Flow, between Mainland and Cava, it has a section permanently above sea level. It is to the north east of Cava, and south of Orphir. It is also north of Flotta.

History

Formerly known as Carlin Skerry,[4] the rock gained its strange name, not from its shape, or position, as is often the case, but from the annual rent paid on it, by the residents of Orphir. In return for a barrel of butter per year, they gained permission from the local laird to hunt the seals on it.[1]

On 21 June 1919, the waters between the Barrel of Butter and Cava became full of scuttled German ships, including the SMS Bayern, Markgraf, Cöln, Dresden and König. Some of these are still popular with divers.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
  2. ↑ Ordnance Survey. "Orkney Islands (Kirkwall) - Ordnance Survey One-inch to the mile maps of Great Britain, Seventh Series, 1952-1961". National Library of Scotland. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
  3. ↑ Barrel of Butter The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 27 May 2016
  4. ↑ "The Barrel of Butter". Scapa Flow Landscape Partnership Scheme. Retrieved 2014-09-08.

External links


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 5/28/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.