Braziers

The early mariner's warning lights consisted chiefly of open fires and later of fire beacons maintained on a grate or in an iron basket known as a brazier and shown from an elevated location or platform near the coast. They were often unreliable because of the variability between burning well, with lots flame and therefore light, or burning poorly with little flame or much smoke obscuring the light. These beacons were maintained both by public and private enterprises. Patents were granted to certain individuals for the upkeep of beacons in England and Scotland.