The Old Light, Lundy
By Miles ·
Lundy's Old Light stands against a dramatic sky, its granite tower recalling a lighthouse whose beam was too often hidden by mist and cloud.
Standing high on Beacon Hill, the Old Light is one of the most distinctive landmarks on Lundy, a remote island in the Bristol Channel off the coast of North Devon.
Built for Trinity House in 1819 and brought into service the following year, the lighthouse was intended to guide vessels safely through the treacherous waters surrounding the island. Its substantial granite tower, rising some 30 metres above the ground, was an impressive feat of engineering for its time.
Unfortunately, its commanding position proved to be something of a disadvantage. Built on one of the highest points of the island, the lantern was frequently obscured by low cloud and sea mist, rendering the light invisible to the very sailors it was intended to protect.
Attempts were made to overcome the problem, including the addition of a lower lantern and the establishment of a fog signal station. Eventually, in 1897, the Old Light was replaced by two new lighthouses at the northern and southern ends of Lundy, positioned much closer to sea level.
I chose black and white to emphasise the strong vertical lines of the lighthouse, its distinctive lantern room and the changing tones of the sky. The simple composition allows the building to dominate the photograph, much as it dominates the surrounding landscape.
There is something fascinating about old lighthouses. Built to withstand the elements and protect those travelling at sea, they represent an extraordinary combination of engineering, isolation and human determination.
For me, the Old Light is particularly interesting because its greatest strength, its elevated position, ultimately became its downfall.
More than a century after its working life ended, it remains a remarkable landmark and a reminder that even the most ambitious engineering projects can occasionally be defeated by the weather.