The Lighthouse, starring Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe, was partly inspired by a harrowing true story
Robert Eggers’ 2019 psychological horror movie, The Lighthouse, garnered praise and even an Oscar nod for its stunning black-and-white cinematography, surreal ambiance, and stellar performances from Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson.
The movie spins the tale of two 19th-century lighthouse keepers marooned at a secluded New England outpost during a brutal storm, with isolation, suspicion, and bizarre visions taking their toll.
While viewers and critics have debated the film’s symbolism and genre a mix of horror, myth, and drama many don’t realize that it was partially inspired by a real-life tragedy that occurred over 200 years ago on the distant coast of Wales, part of the United Kingdom.
This true story, now referred to as the Smalls Lighthouse Tragedy, is one of the most chilling chapters in British maritime history and led to a lasting change in lighthouse policy.
The Smalls Lighthouse sits on a rocky islet about 20 miles west of the St David’s Peninsula in Pembrokeshire, in Wales, exposed to the full brunt of the Irish Sea – it was designed and built in 1775, reports the Mirror.
Life at The Smalls was solitary and confined. Back then, lighthouse crews typically consisted of just two men, who would endure long periods in total isolation.
Their sole duties were to keep the lamp burning at night and maintain the structure during the day, regardless of the weather.
In 1801, the lighthouse was home to Thomas Howell and Thomas Griffith, two men known for their frequent disputes. One fateful day, Griffith fell gravely ill following an unusual accident.
In a desperate attempt to get help, Howell set up a distress signal, hoping a passing ship would notice their plight. However, in an era without radio, flag signaling was futile for such an isolated location.
Relentless storms battered the lighthouse for weeks on end, making it impossible for any vessel to approach. As Griffith’s condition deteriorated, he eventually succumbed to his illness after enduring prolonged suffering.
Suddenly alone, Howell faced a horrifying predicament. Given their strained relationship, he feared that disposing of Griffith’s body at sea might lead to accusations of murder in any subsequent investigation.
He decided his only choice was to preserve the body until help arrived.
Initially, Howell kept Griffith’s body inside their small living quarters, a hut barely five meters across. But as decomposition set in, the smell became intolerable.
Drawing on his past experience as a cooper, Howell dismantled part of the interior to construct a makeshift coffin from wooden planks. He placed Griffith inside, secured the lid, and hoisted the coffin onto a ledge on the outside of the lighthouse, tying it securely in place.
The weather showed no mercy, and weeks later, the violent winds ripped the coffin apart, scattering the boards into the sea and leaving the body tied to the railing, exposed to the harsh elements.
This is when the incident took on its most enduring and gruesome image. One of Griffith’s arms had come loose, and whenever the wind caught it just right, it seemed to wave or beckon.
Howell could see it from inside the hut, a constant and chilling reminder of his dire situation.
As days turned into weeks, several ships sailed within sight of the lighthouse, but the rough conditions made landing impossible. Crews could see the light still burning at night a testament to Howell’s commitment to his duty and during the day, they occasionally spotted a figure on the gallery.
From afar, they couldn’t discern what had transpired, and with no apparent urgency in the signaling, they continued their journey.
It’s believed Howell lived alongside his deceased colleague for about four months before a ship from Milford Haven was finally able to land on The Smalls.
When rescuers arrived, they discovered Griffith’s body still tied to the railings and Howell physically and mentally altered. Friends back on shore later claimed they didn’t recognize him his hair had prematurely turned grey, his face was gaunt, and he seemed shattered by the experience.
The Smalls Lighthouse Tragedy sent shockwaves through the maritime community, exposing the perils of having only two keepers at such a remote station. As a result, the governing body changed its policy to mandate that all lighthouses be manned by at least three people at a time.
This rule stayed in place for nearly two centuries, until British lighthouses were automated in the late 20th century.
The events of 1801 have sparked numerous creative works over the past two centuries. In 2011, the BBC aired The Lighthouse, a radio play by Alan Harris inspired by the tragedy.
In 2016, Welsh director Chris Crow released a feature film with the same title, also loosely based on the events at The Smalls, before Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse brought the story to international audiences.
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