Barrel of Butter

Skerry in Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands

58°53′26″N 3°07′34″W / 58.8905°N 3.126°W / 58.8905; -3.126Physical geographyIsland groupOrkneyAdministrationSovereign stateUnited KingdomCountryScotlandCouncil areaOrkney Islands

References^[1]^[2]Barrel of Butter lighthouse

The navigation light on Barrel of Butter

Coordinates58°53′25″N 3°07′35″W / 58.890415°N 3.126391°W / 58.890415; -3.126391Constructed1980Constructionmasonry tower, metal platformAutomated1980

Height6 metres (20 ft)Shapeconical frustum tower with platform and lightMarkingsunpainted tower, grey platformPower sourcesolar power

OperatorNorthern Lighthouse Board^[3]Focal height6 metres (20 ft)Range7 nmi (13 km; 8.1 mi)

CharacteristicFl (2) W 10s.

The Barrel of Butter, formerly known as Carlin Skerry, is a skerry 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]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
^ Ordnance Survey. "Orkney Islands (Kirkwall) - Ordnance Survey One-inch to the mile maps of Great Britain, Seventh Series, 1952-1961". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Scotland: Orkney". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
^ "The Barrel of Butter". Scapa Flow Landscape Partnership Scheme. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2014.