Why Do Lighthouse Keepers Go Crazy?
Written by Kai Voorhees
You may have heard the mysteries about lighthouse keepers and why so many of them “go mad”. When I was bored one day, I decided that I needed to research why this happens. What I found is that there are many dangers when it comes to working in a lighthouse. Some of these include isolation from society, extreme weather conditions, and many physical demands.
An example of isolation from society would be “The Smalls Lighthouse Tragedy". In 1801, there was a lighthouse off the coast of Wales that was called The Smalls Lighthouse. There were two keepers who were hired to work there. Their names were Thomas Howell and Thomas Griffith. Within a few months of working there Thomas Griffith died. This left Thomas Howell alone. The story goes on from here, but due to it being awfully bloodcurdling I will not describe the next events. It is said that Thomas Howell went insane and died a few months after his partner. This is one of the many reasons lighthouse keepers go crazy.
Another danger of being a lighthouse keeper is bad weather. With most lighthouses being in remote areas near water, there are lots of weather conditions that could be dangerous. One example of this was the Flannan Isle Lighthouse in 1900. It was at this lighthouse that three keepers disappeared. They were never found. It was thought that they were caught by a huge wave or storm at the coast that washed them off the island. Another example is the Eddystone Lighthouse. It was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. In 1703, during the Great Storm, the Eddystone Lighthouse was obliterated by storms, resulting in the deaths of its keeper, Henry Winstanley. Bad weather is another reason why being a lighthouse keeper is a dangerous job.
Physical demands can also cause injury or danger in lighthouses. Keepers must climb steep, narrow staircases, sometimes carrying heavy equipment, to reach the top. Considering that most lighthouses have more than 100 steps, if a keeper falls, it would be a very serious injury. Physical demands also are dangerous things lighthouse keepers have to deal with.
In conclusion, it is clear that lighthouse keeping is a very underrated and underestimated job.
Posted on April 22, 2026