Lighthouse

 

A beacon of hope and safety for sailors navigating the treacherous waters of the Bristol Channel. But the story of this magnificent structure is not one of smooth sailing, I assure you.

Let me take you back to the 1830s, a time when Burnham on Sea was a thriving port and a hub of trade. It was a place of great prosperity, but also of great danger, as the waters of the Bristol Channel were notorious for their strong currents and unpredictable tides. Ships were wrecked on a regular basis, and the loss of life was often devastating.

Enter Sir John Harington, a man with a vision. He saw the need for a lighthouse to guide ships safely through the channel and prevent further tragedy. And so, he set about building one.

It was no mean feat, let me tell you. The construction of the lighthouse was plagued by problems from the very beginning. The ground on which it was to be built was marshy and unstable, and the workmen struggled to find a way to lay solid foundations. And when they did, the structure they built was unstable and liable to collapse at any moment.

But Sir John was not deterred. He poured all of his wealth and resources into the project, determined to see it through to completion. And after years of setbacks and delays, the lighthouse finally stood tall and proud, a symbol of hope and safety for all who sailed through the treacherous waters of the Bristol Channel.

But the story doesn't end there. You see, the Burnham on Sea lighthouse was not content to simply do its job and guide ships to safety. Oh no. It had a personality all of its own.

For years, sailors had reported strange sightings and eerie noises coming from the lighthouse. They spoke of ghostly figures that appeared in the dead of night, of strange whispers that echoed across the water, and of unexplained phenomena that left them feeling unsettled and afraid.

And as the years went on, these stories only grew in number and intensity. People spoke of a curse that had been placed on the lighthouse, of ancient spirits that had been disturbed by its construction, and of malevolent forces that haunted its every corner.

Of course, these were just stories, and there was no evidence to support them. But they added to the mystique of the Burnham on Sea lighthouse, and made it all the more fascinating to the people of the town.

And so it went on, that magnificent structure standing proud over the waters, guiding ships to safety and inspiring stories of wonder and fear. It was a testament to the ingenuity and determination of Sir John Harington, and a reminder of the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity and achieve great things.

 
John Wright

Fine art photographer and civil society expert, currently in Kyiv Ukraine.

https://www.photojohnw.com
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