2005
SZ4977 : Tower of St Catherine's Oratory
taken 22 years ago, near to Blackgang, Isle of Wight, England

Tower of St Catherine's Oratory
See SZ4977 : St. Catherine's Oratory. "The Saint Marie was wrecked on Atherfield Ledge in the Parish of Shorwell in 1314. The tower was built as a lighthouse to prevent further wrecks and there was originally an oratory chapel with a monk whose job was to trim the light and say masses for those lost at sea. After the Reformation the church fell into ruins and had disappeared by the C18, but buttresses were added to the tower then to keep it standing as a seamark. Restored by P G Stone in 1891 and by the then Ministry of Works in 1950 ... The top storey has 8 windows splayed outwards to emit light from the brazier which formed the beacon. Stairs and floors now missing. A rare survival of a medieval lighthouse." Link
(Archive Link
)
