The High and Low Lights of North Shields which are also known as the Fish Quay High and Low Lights are a series of historic leading lights that were constructed near Fish Quay in North Shields, Tyne and Wear in the United Kingdom. The first pair of lighthouses were erected here in the 16th century by the Guild of the Blessed Trinity of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. By following a course which kept the two lights aligned, pilots were able to navigate along the Tyne, avoiding the dangerous Shields Bar and the Black Middens.
Incidentally this was a practical benefit from Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries; the lights were built with stones taken from the local Blackfriars church.
I've always loved lighthouses, and I've always been fascinated by the clever ways people have figured out to safely navigate the absurdly complicated, truly alien, absolutely unforgiving environment of the surface of rivers, lakes, and the sea, in all kinds of weather and conditions.
ReplyDeleteSo on that note, thanks for the interesting post! I learned something new, which I always love doing, and which is one of the great draws this blog has for me.