Lighthouse Keeper

I've seen something about how one of a pair of keepers got washed onto the rocks and died. His body was snagged on something but inaccessible. Apparently, his colleague had to endure the sight of his corpse seemingly waving at him as the waves washed the body for months.

This sent the fellow mad and when the relief crew (pair) arrived they found him in a completely deranged state, never to recover. There may even have been questions as to whether the death was accidental.

According to form, this led the authorities to bring a rule in that there must be more than two keepers on site. Either NLB or Trinity House.


Anyroad, google isn't helping. Other than to tell me some keepers went mad because of mercury vapours. (The rotating lights floated on mercury)

Anyone remember this being on telly? I know Gwim is familiar with The Bell Rock episode. But I don't think it was featured there.


Meanwhile:

Nakky interlude

There was a play based on the true story - Keepers. The info given might help.

Brilliant, Jo Anne. Note how the colleagues are referred to as 'quarrelsome'. I think this raised questions as to the cause of death.

smalls lighthouse

The story of this lighthouse was presented in the BBC Television program Coast series 1 episode "Bristol to Fishguard". (wiki)

Howell feared that he might be suspected of murder if he discarded the body into the sea.[3] As the body began to decompose, Howell built a makeshift coffin for the corpse and lashed it to an outside shelf. Stiff winds blew the box apart, though, and the body's arm fell within view of the hut's window and caused the wind to catch it in such a way that it seemed as though it was beckoning.[3] Working alone and with the decaying corpse of his former colleague outside Howell managed to keep the lamp lit.[3] When Howell was finally relieved from the lighthouse the effect the situation had had on him was said to be so extreme that some of his friends did not recognise him.[3] Until the automation of British lighthouses in the 1980s lighthouse teams were changed to rosters of three men.



Wiki

'Coast' it was, Jo Anne.

I'm happy now.

Great finds linked alike.

but what about the chippy ?

I struggled with google.

The chippy? He asks, as he looks into the archive.

Chippy

says the man with a beam on his face

For the Google search, I typed - lighthouse keepers minimum three.

The Chippy:
Two owners of 'Batter um up' chipshop in West Dewsbury caused quite a sensation in the early 1200's.
Messrs Postlethwaite and Egglethwaite, proprietors, were involved in a heated debate about the length of the perfect chip, when Mr.Postlethwaite lost his temper and rammed a 3 and a half inch piece of chipped potato into Mr. Egglethwaite's eye, thus causing said Mr. Egglethwaite to lose his balance and fall in the gap between the bain marie and the Potato slicer, which was used to slice potatoes before they were fried, and they were known as fried slices. Mr. Postlethwaite tried in vain to rescue his comrade, but sadly, failed in his endeavours. From that day, when Mr. Postlethwaite sliced potatoes, the arm of Mr. Egglethwaite swept across his body( due to the vibrations caused by the motion of the Potato slicer) and slaped Mr. Postlethwaite straight across the kisser. On seeing this, the locals renamed the fried slices as Smacks.
The rest is History.

Me and the wife's marriage has been on the rocks ever since we moved into our new lighthouse, which only weighs 16 pounds.

bet the bishops rock is heavier

Depends what he was eating earlier that day.

For the Google search, I typed - lighthouse keepers minimum three

Kudos to Jo Anne.

I was looking for 'insane', 'driven mad' etc.

I knew the waving arm had something to do with it.

Speaking/typing of waving arms:


I suspect if you google 'waving arms' and 'notreets' you'll find wavy snots on Wiganworld.

Which broadened my search.

Ignore them Palestines ^^^^^^^^^^^

No wonder....etc...

And 'them nakky women - lighthouse' got me looking at smalls, but not 'Smalls Lighthouse'. Actually in completely the wrong direction.

Which was nice!

What about the legend that my chipshop tales suggests?

It is poppycock and twaddle of the highest order.

Early 1200's

Listen/read, coolie.

Chip shops came a about after the discovery of railways by Dr Beecham in 1966.



"Bring the Bradshaw's Watson"

There was reference to a "potato chip and battered fish emporium" in Kendal in the late 1800's...soon after the railway / canal got there...For the delectation of the travelling Wigan masses no doubt!

Do they have a canal at Kendal?

Ndeed they do/did

I'd only noticed the river.

I excavated a bit of it... never seen as many toilet seats!

Jaysus, how old are you?

Nicola the Navvy.

so there. I may have made it up, but for all you know they could have been called smacks due to the poor quality of the product, ergo the assistant took a 'smack' everytime the customer was sold shoddy goods.

OR...
the assistant was a volatile beast at the best of times and was often heard to cry, 'Do you want a smack? To which the proprieter rushed out and offered the cusomer a lighty floured and deep fried slab of 'Potato'

In 2006..or 7...or 8! re-excavated I should have said!

You have to mind what you type on here. There are some right scoundrels who will try to besmirch you. (And other things which will make your eyes water)

No wonder....etc...

Beware of these two lighthouse keepers then.

Gonnae no dae that

Why you little....

I'd completely forgotten them.