Lighthouses
Sentinels of the Sea – The Amazing History of Lighthouses
A general introduction to “pharology” - the study of lighthouses and other navigational aids. The talk will discuss the prototype - the Pharos of Alexandria, and the evolving history of lighthouse construction, methods of illumination, operation and maintenance, the lives of the keepers, including some of the extraordinary heroic stories associated with them.
Guardians of the Lights – The World of the Lighthouse Keeper
A more detailed exploration of lighthouse-keeping around the world in the days when they were manned. The daily lives of the men and women who tended the lights; their duties, hobbies, and occasional heroic deeds are discussed.
Famous Lighthouse Engineers of the Nineteenth Century
Exploring the architecture and construction of sea-swept lighthouses and the men who built them; their individual design innovations, the building techniques used and the incredible challenges they faced out at sea.
The Lighthouses and Lightvessels of the Essex Coast
Exploring the history, people, events and human stories associated with the church lights, daymarks, the screwpile lighthouses at Gunfleet, Maplin Sands and Canvey Island, the lights of Harwich and the many light vessels that guarded the entrance to the River Thames. The important depots at Harwich and Trinity Buoy Wharf in Blackwall, London, where light vessels were maintained and lighthouse keepers were trained, are also explored.
The Lighthouses and Lightvessels of the Kent Coast
Exploring the history, people, events and human stories associated with the beacons including the Reculver Towers, North, South Foreland, and Dungeness Lighthouses. The doomed efforts to try and establish a light on the Goodwin Sands are explored and the lightvessels around the Kentish coast, including the world’s first manned floating navigational aid, are also discussed.
Ships that go Nowhere – The Story of the World’s Lightvessel
An historical account of the floating navigational lights that warn mariners of hidden sandbanks and rocks moored where lighthouses could not be built. The talk explains the evolution of their design and construction, the work of the crews, and includes stories of heroism and tragedy.
The Girl with the Windswept Hair – The Grace Darling Story
Celebrating the life and work of this illustrious poet, artist and social reformer, who pioneered a movement that reacted against the soulless machine production of the Industrial Revolution and attempted to promote joyful labour, the enjoyment of fine craftsmanship and simplicity of expression.
Lighthouses in Wartime
Many lighthouses in Britain and Europe were extinguished during hostilities and only lit to allow safe passage of convoys and fighting ships. This talk tells the forgotten story of the many lighthouses and light-vessels in WW1 and WW2 that faced enemy attack, which often resulted in keepers and crewmen losing their lives.
Lighthouses and the Paranormal
Lighthouses have always had a long association with the supernatural. This talk discusses the accounts of ghosts, poltergeists, phantom lights, and other paranormal phenomena that have been reported in many world lighthouses. The talk also includes stories of strange disappearances, superstitions, suicides, the effects of deadly storms and other inexplicable tales.
Another talk of related maritime interest….
Lifesaving at Sea – the History of Lifeboats
The story of early human attempts to save shipwrecked lives, including the development of the modern lifeboat, great rescues, tragic losses and stories of the gallant men and women of the RNLI.