Southerness lighthouse is located at the village of Southerness in Dumfries and Galloway in South West Scotland. It is at present the second oldest lighthouse in Scotland. The lighthouse stands approximately 17 metres (55 feet) tall and was commissioned by the Town Council of Dumfries in 1748 to assist in the safe passage though the Solway Firth of ships heading to the Nith Estuary. At that time roads in South West Scotland were quite sparse so the bulk of trade even between local villages, was carried out by sea. Dumfries was a major port and there were regular connections with Liverpool and, especially, Ireland. Construction was completed in 1749.
The lighthouse was raised from its original structure twice, most notably between 1842 and 1844 to a design by Walter Newall. It is unusual in being initially a square structure before it becomes circular below the lamp level.
The lighthouse was first lit around 1800 and was decommissioned in 1936. The light was also extinguished for financial reasons between 1867 and 1894.
