This week Neil spends time on one of the most notorious lighthouses in the world – a place with a profound sense of isolation and a dark history.The British Isles are home to an island race, and to survive and thrive its people have depended on a mastery of the seaways and protection from its dangerous coasts. Ever since King Henry VIII Britain have made lighthouses their own. Dotted around the coastline these engineering marvels have become part of the landscape, sentinels and beacons of hope.In this episode Neil weaves the history of lighthouses, the story of the courageous lighthouse keepers who protect lives at sea, with the tragic events that took place on Smalls Lighthouse, off the Pembrokeshire coast.To help support this podcast sign up to Neil Oliver on PatreonNew Videos Every Week and an archive packed full of history, comment and current affairs films.https://www.patreon.com/neiloliver Instagram account – Neil Oliver Love Letter  https://www.instagram.com/neiloliverloveletter/?hl=en Neil Oliver YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnVR-SdKxQeTvXtUSPFCL7g Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.