Lighthouse Log by Captain Thomas Pixley, 1841
Lighthouse log, pp.260-261
Content Description
This is the lighthouse journal of Captain Thomas Pixley, an Elder of Trinity House (the official authority for lighthouses in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar) recounting three years travelling through the inland waters of the British Isles inspecting lighthouses and lightships, twice journeying through Scottish water in the company of the preeminent engineers and lighthouse builders, David and Alan Stevenson.
In the volume there are eight vignettes of lighthouse and lightships which include Haulbowline, Eddystone and Skerrivore; seventeen coastal profiles as seen from the sea; three charts and numerous sketches of lighting arrays within the lighthouses. Arranged by voyages, Pixley’s narrative begins on the Medway in Trinity House’s vessel the Vestal, headed for the Firth of Forth, on the 16th of April 1841 and ends on the 9th of October 1844 on Margate Sands, in media res - Pixley certainly intended to continue onto a second volume.
Dates
- Creation: 1841
Creator
- Pixley, Thomas William, 1787-1869 (Ship captain) (Author, Person)
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
Open. Please contact the repository in advance.
Full Extent
1 volume
Custodial History
Previously belonging to the Stevenson Lighthouse Engineers’ Library, and before that to David Alan Stevenson (1891-1971), grandson of David Stevenson (1815-1886): manuscript note by David Alan Stevenson in black biro to the front pastedown giving a short biography of Pixley and an additional note, dated to 1962 opposite title page: "D Alan Stevenson Bought by me from a London bookseller about 1930".
Pixley’s Journal is preceded by his 3 page index with a pencilled note in another owner’s hand, presumably pre 1930, "Index very incomplete D.M." - D. M. has also added his own additional index of voyages to the verso of the penultimate flyleaf.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased in March 2024. Accession no. SC-Acc-2024-0092.
Physical Description
Large octavo (15 x 21 cm) bound in half black straight grain roan over green cloth covered boards. "Journal 1" to the spine; all edges marbled. Captain Thomas Pixley has written the journal in black ink on lined paper; his text interspersed with vignette illustrations also in ink: c 200 words per page over 325 pages.
Processing Information
Catalogued in March 2025 by Aline Brodin, using information provided by the seller.
Subject
- Stevenson, David, 1815-1886 (Civil engineer) (Person)
- Stevenson, Alan, 1807-1865 (Civil engineer) (Person)
Source
- Stevenson, David Alan, 1891-1971 (Lighthouse engineer) (Former owner, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk