The Harwich Range Lights, England

You see many unusual lighthouses when you take a U.S. Lighthouse Society tour. I was lucky to join such a tour of England and found the range lights at Harwich particularly interesting. These lights are amongst the oldest in England and are examples of very early range lights (what the English would call "Leading Lights"). They began life in private hands, were eventually bought by the Trinity House, were rebuilt or improved four times, were replaced by lights at another location, and were finally abandoned during their multi-century history. In addition a black keeper, perhaps the first in England, maintained them for many years. The following story will give you insight into the intrigue and skullduggery that allowed the lights to be erected and their subsequent history.