Fake Ghost For a Lighthouse
By Sue Clark on Aug 30, 2009 in News 
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Ghostly Statue to Be Built
If you have a haunted lighthouse, you might want to follow the lead of the owners of the lighthouse at Talacre, in Wales, and honor the ghost by building a statue to him. That’s exactly what the Talacre Beach Leisure Group, who owns the lighthouse and beach surrounding it plan to do. Their ghost, a former lighthouse keeper, will be honored with a stainless steel statue statue to be placed on the lighthouse.
This specter, who has even been seen in broad daylight, is quite well known by locals and beachgoers. He’s often seen on the inside of the lantern room, even though there is no way anyone can get into the lighthouse. The door is locked, and inaccessible to everyone. The figure is described as wearing old fashioned keeper’s coat.
Statue To Be “Serious Art”
The Point of Ayr Lighthouse, near Flintshire, known locally as the Talacre Lighthouse, is listed as an historic property. The owners have submitted an application to Flintshire County Council for permission to erect a two meter stainless steel human sculpture affixed to the external balcony and railing of Talacre Lighthouse. According to news reports, including one at the BBC, the Council appears to be enthusiastic about the project.
David Middleton, representing the owners, said in the story at the BBC that “this will not just be something quirky and short-term, it’s a serious art installation off the back of those sightings. There’s been anecdotal evidence over the years of people having seen some sort of figure.” A local artist has been commissioned to do the sculpture. Detailed plans of the lighthouse with a sketch of the figure looking out over the railing have been submitted.
One Woman’s Story
An unidentified woman recounted her sighting to the BBC. “My husband and I were on Talacre beach a couple of years ago and saw a lighthouse keeper at the top of the lighthouse, in front of the glass dome. He was wearing an old-fashioned dark worsted lighthouse keeper’s coat and hat. The lighthouse was locked and chained.”
She said the figure was there for quite a while on a sunny day with no mist, and added, “My husband and I can’t see how anyone could get there unless they were dropped by helicopter and we would have heard that. If the person was meant to be there surely they would have had a hard hat on and a fluorescent jacket. The chain round the door was very strong and the padlock was a large one.”
So What Will The Real Ghost Think?
Well, I don’t know how he will react. Will he consider the fake ghost to be an interloper? And maybe he’ll get in a snit and disappear? By the looks of the lighthouse, it needs more than a statue. It needs some serious work instead. Perhaps that’s why the spirit of the former lighthouse keeper still haunts the tower. He must be saddened to see such a lovely lighthouse fall into disrepair and covered with marks of vandalism.
Let’s hope the Talacre Beach Leisure Group uses the unveiling of the statue to actually spruce up this lonely Welsh lighthouse, and perhaps the real ghost will finally get some peace.
Photo credits:
- A Visitor Calls by Eladesor. Some rights reserved.
- Talacre Lighthouse Door by BBC Local. Some rights reserved.
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