Imagine you are sailing from the West Atlantic inbound for Plymouth in winter, three hundred years ago. Your ship, a massive and magnificent four-master at the behest of current and winds, is running before the rising westerly gale. The pall of cloud denies observation of stars. As the vessel pitches you cannot see where sea meets cloud, which in any case, is low enough to form a fog with the spume from the wave tops. Yet, you are making good progress towards your desired landfall off the south west of Ireland, as indicated by the log and compass. You could be standing into danger if the wind turns southwesterly and be in hazard from the Blasket Islands and offshore reefs around Dingle and Bantry Bays. There are no lighthouses to guide you. Luckily, a few years ago, in 1708, the dreaded Eddystone reef off Plymouth was marked by Rudyerd's wooden lighthouse-if only there could be more lighthouses! That is how it was on most coasts until well-engineered lighthouses were built in the 19th century and the Trinity Brethren had their Charter to take over poorly run private beacons, and eventually, establish a reliable and properly managed lighthouse service, emulated since by many other lighthouse authorities.
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