Recently, while renovating the Corsewall Lighthouse, engineers accidentally discovered a mysterious glass bottle hidden within the wall. Even more surprising, the letter inside was written by the final group of engineers who worked at the lighthouse over 132 years ago.
The Corsewall Lighthouse, built in 1817 near the village of Kirkcolm on the peninsula overlooking the Irish Sea, has witnessed many historical stories.
The mysterious letter from 132 years ago, a message from the skilled craftsmen who once worked here in 1892. (Photo: Ross Russell).
The letter found at Corsewall Lighthouse was placed in a glass bottle, written with a quill and ink, detailing the installation process of a new lantern and Fresnel lens. The document also contains the names of the engineers and lighthouse keepers at that time.
Ross Russell, the technician who discovered the bottle, shared: “This paper is truly shocking. I am genuinely amazed to be the first person to touch this bottle after 132 years. This is a once-in-a-lifetime discovery.”
The letter is currently being preserved at the Northern Lighthouse Board’s office, the agency responsible for maintaining Corsewall. After the renovation is complete, the engineering team plans to return the letter to its original location.
At the same time, they intend to write a new message and place it in another bottle to send to future generations.
Corsewall Lighthouse was built in 1817.
Back in 1892, a team of engineers from Edinburgh undertook a significant project at this lighthouse. They installed a more modern lantern and a new Fresnel lens, which helped guide ships through the Loch Ryan entrance and the stormy waters of the Irish Sea. Before completing their work, they left the letter as a message for the future. The letter was dated September 4, 1892.
The Corsewall Lighthouse served as a home and workplace for lighthouse keepers until 1994, when the system was automated. Since then, the lighthouse has been operated remotely by the Northern Lighthouse Board in Edinburgh.
