Some additional notes on the History of Cross Island

by Tom Skelton

(first published in the CBO Annual Report for 1979)

One of the older names for the island is Laune. It seems that Launus, who was a monk of Bangor, was involved in the founding of no less than 100 monastries on behalf of St Ninian, a Bishop of the Southern Picts in Wigtownshire.

The original lighthouse on Cross Island is thought to have been reconstructed on two occasions, the most recent of which was soon after 1711. this was to replace the Isle of Magee Lighthouse, which was abandoned 1668 (even though in 1683 a local survey by Dobbs mentioned the lighthouse then at Blackhead). The Copeland light is an Irish Cottage lighthouse with stone walled keepers’ cottages, stone stairs and platform on the roof. The beacon then burnt coal, wood, turf, and the vaulted house was for fire protection. As the island was not inhabited more accommodation was needed for the keepers and so another floor was constructed for living and stores. Indeed, historian Harris says that in 1744 it was 30 years old, had three stories, the first two timbered and the third arched and covered with flags seven feet by eight feet long, quarried on the island. The tower was erected in the middle of the house. On the tower the grate was fixed on a thick iron spindle and the beacon burnt 1.5 tons of coal per night.

The oil lamp, which was placed in 1796, contained six lamps in one corner, and the tower was then 44 feet tall. It was about this time that the island was visited by James Orr the weaver poet of Ballycarry, who wrote a poem about it:

Yet fertile grain field here abound, and fragrant meads and pastures bland, for nature with success has crowned the labours of the lampman’s hand. With winding steps I slowly climb thy beacon, boast of Art’s strong hand, and from its pinnacle sublime with wonder gaze on sea and land.

In 1813 the new lighthouse was built to the south of the old, and the old tower was lowered and able to carry a fog bell. In 1863 the old beacon tower was still being used as a belfry.

In 1884 the lighthouse was built on Mew, and the Cross Island light was abandoned, and partially pulled down.