The idea for the Tiumpan Head Lighthouse in the village of Portvoller in Point, Isle of Lewis was long promoted, but refused for many years by the Board of Trade.

After a recommendation by the Western Highlands and Islands Commission to additionally keep a watch on illegal trawlers, it was approved in May 1879.

[3] The lighthouse and building were designed by David and Charles Stevenson and built by John Aitken, at an estimated cost of £9000.

The fog signal was operated by compressed air supplied from a compressor, driven by a Kelvin Diesel engine.

There were three Kelvin engines and compressors, and when the fog signal was in operation, two of them were in service to maintain the required air pressure with one standby, in rotation.