What is the Bell Rock?

The Inchcape or Bell Rock lies 12 miles off the coast of Forfarshire and is fully exposed to the waves of the German Ocean^[1]. The place on which the tower is erected is 16 feet below high-water spring tides, or not much above the level of low-water springs^[1].

The sandstone of which it consists lies in ledges which are easily dislodged by the sea^[1]. Since the erection of the tower, portions of the rock near the base have been frequently detached, leaving voids which have from time to time been made up with cement or concrete^[1].