Lighthouses: Towers of the Sea - Tapa dura

There is a widespread fascination with lighthouses that often has nothing to do with the sea. They stand out in the land or seascape. Sooner or later, looking at lighthouses leads to questions about them, and in particular human questions - who, when, where, how? These do not simply refer to their construction, but also to who used and operated them - the mariners and keepers and their families. Charles Payton tells the story of lighthouses, focusing on those that belong to the National Trust or stand on National Trust land. Lighthouses Featured: Farne Islands - Northumberland * Souter - Tyne & Wear Orford Ness - Suffolk * South Foreland - Kent Beachy Head - Sussex * Needles Old Battery - Isle of Wight St Catherine's - Isle of Wight * The Lizard - Cornwall Gribbin - Cornwall * Lundy - Bristol Channel Rathlin Island - Northern Ireland

Charles Payton was a founder and trustee of London's Museum in Docklands. He has organised events such as the International Festival of the Sea in Bristol, and at Brest in Brittany.