Unexpected Essex

Episode 1: The Lighthouse Builder

Written by

Unexpected Essex

in

Henry Winstanley – a self portrait

Summary

Unexpected Essex host Eri Berry answers the question: how did a man who lived miles from the sea, with no nautical experience, no opportunity to go to university build the world’s first offshore lighthouse? And why isn’t he better known?

This episode explores the fascinating life and tragic end of Henry Winstanley, builder of the first offshore lighthouse on the Eddystone rocks off the coast of Plymouth. Winstanley was born in Saffron Walden and grew up dreaming of a career as an architect. A chance meeting with a wealthy London businessman leads to him building his most ambitious project which sadly costs him his life.

Key Names/Places/Dates

Henry Winstanley, The Lighthouse Builder, 1703, The Great Storm, Plymouth, Saffron Walden, Littlebury, Essex, local history.

Transcript

Ep 1 – The Lighthouse BuilderDownload

Research Sources:

HENRY WINSTANLEY (1644-1703). The Last Renaissance Engineer by Martin Rose

Trinity House https://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/

Saffron Walden Museum https://www.saffronwaldenmuseum.org/

Attribution and Credits:

Video Intro

Image:Source URL:Attribution:Licence Type:DownloadDate Modified?
Bridge End Gardens Saffron Walden.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/dxR7Ki“Meeting up with Ola, Lisa, and Rex in Saffron Walden” by Tim Regan, CC BY 2.0CC BY 2.031/08/2026No
Chelmsford Cathedral.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/7u9rHa“Chelmsford Cathedral” by fourthandfifteen, CC BY 2.0CC BY 2.031/08/2026No
Southend Pier With Greenery.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/6Fe3eX“Southend Pier.” by Jim Linwood, CC BY 2.0CC BY 2.031/08/2026No
Colchester Castle.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/DqxK3b“Colchester Castle” by William Marnoch, CC BY 2.0CC BY 2.031/08/2026No
Mersea Island Beach Huts.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/2kYHhzg“Pretty pastel beach huts” by Jerry Clack, CC BY 2.0CC BY 2.031/08/2026No
Hobbs Cross Harlow.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/2jtpvVB“Hobbs Cross, Harlow” by Sludge G, CC BY-SA 2.0CC BY-SA 2.031/08/2026No
Finchingfield.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/7TWVL6“Finchingfield” by Brian Snelson, CC BY 2.0CC BY 2.031/08/2026No
Harlow Riverboats Sunset.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/2f1Tuvv“Harlow” by Kent Wang, CC BY-SA 2.0CC BY-SA 2.031/08/2026No
St Peter on the Wall.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/2pbUhCC“Chapel of St Peter on the Wall” by Tom Bastin, CC BY 2.0CC BY 2.031/08/2026No
Swans River Stour.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/2jwdsfA“River Stour” by Jason Boldero, CC BY 2.0CC BY 2.031/08/2026No
Thaxted Guildhall and Church.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/4qhScp“Thaxted guildhall” by Marco Chiesa, CC BY 2.0CC BY 2.031/08/2026No
Hedingham Castle.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/2m7mEwe“Hedingham Castle – Norman Keep in England” by Steve Knight, CC BY 2.0CC BY 2.005/09/2026No
Hatfield Forest Lake.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/2cXBELC“Hatfield Forest Lake” by Jason Boldero, CC BY 2.0CC BY 2.031/08/2026No

Episode 1 Specific Images:

Image:Source URL:Licence Type:Attribution:Download DateModified?
Henry Winstanley.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_Winstanley00.jpgPublic DomainHenry Winstanley, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons01/09/2026No
Jean Ingelow by Elliott & Fry, London.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jean_Ingelow_by_Elliott_%26_Fry,_London.jpgPublic DomainElliott & Fry, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons02/09/2026No
Battle of Marston Moor 1644 by John Barker.pnghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Battle_of_Marston_Moor_1644_by_John_Barker.pngPublic DomainJohn Barker (1811-1886), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons02/09/2026No
Cucking Stool.pnghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cucking_stool.pngPublic DomainUnknown, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons02/09/2026No
Saffron Walden, Museum Street.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saffron_Walden,_Museum_Street_-_geograph.org.uk_-_5553560.jpgCC BY-SA 2.0Saffron Walden: Museum Street by Christopher Hilton, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons02/09/2026No
Blue Plaque – Birthplace of Henry Winstanley.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_Winstanley_20230328_122941.jpgCC BY-SA 4.0Dcs57, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons02/09/2026No
St Mary’s Church – Saffron Walden.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/Cjty2ECC BY-SA 2.0“St Mary’s Church – Saffron Walden” by Itchy Melvin, CC BY-SA 2.002/09/2026No
Audley End.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/24DDH2LCC BY-SA 2.0“Audley End House – Back” by bvi4092, CC BY 2.002/09/2026No
Audley End Temple of Concord.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/8Sc2jWCC BY 2.0“Audley End 2010-11-07 024” by sps1955, CC BY 2.003/09/2026No
King Charles II.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:King_Charles_II_by_John_Michael_Wright_or_studio.jpgPublic domainJohn Michael Wright, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Baroque.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/2kdfWZECC BY-SA 2.0“Sicilian Baroque” by Hervé Simon, CC BY-SA 2.003/09/2026No
Wenceslaus Hollar.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wenceslaus_Hollar_-_Wenceslaus_Hollar_-_B1977.14.12389_-_Yale_Center_for_British_Art.jpgCC0Wenceslaus Hollar, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Winstanley Geographical Cards – Polanders.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Winstanley_Geographical_Cards_-_Polanders.JPGPublic DomainHenry Winstanley, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Winstanley Geographical Cards – Europe.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Winstanley_Geographical_Cards_-_Europe.JPGPublic DomainHenry Winstanley, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Winstanley Geographical Cards – Iews.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Winstanley_Geographical_Cards_-_Iews.JPGPublic DomainHenry Winstanley, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Earl of Danby.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_Osborne,_1st_Duke_of_Leeds_by_Johann_Kerseboom.jpgPublic DomainJohann Kerseboom, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Audley End Etching.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Audley_End_Essex_1955_Winstanley%27s_View_Page010.jpgPublic DomainO’Neil, B.H. St.J. (Bryan Hugh St. John) 1905-1954, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Littlebury.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/2nkVEvgCC BY 2.0“Littlebury” by David Howard, CC BY 2.003/09/2026No
Winstanley’s House.jpghttps://images.collections.yale.edu/iiif/2/ycba:e58ec244-6af3-45d6-bef3-27517c617668/full/full/0/default.jpgPublic DomainHenry Winstanley, Public domain, via British Art – Yale03/09/2026No
Privateer Dunkerquoise.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Privateer_Dunkerquoise.jpgPublic Domain[1], Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Lettre of marque Artois.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lettre_of_marque-Artois.jpgPublic DomainLouis-Jean-Marie de Bourbon, duc de Penthièvre, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Trinity House, London – arms.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trinity_House,_London_-_arms.jpgCC BY-SA 4.0The wub, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
King William III.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:King_William_III_from_NPG_(2).jpgPublic DomainSchool of Willem Wissing, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Christopher Wren.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christopher_Wren_by_Godfrey_Kneller_1711.jpgPublic DomainGodfrey Kneller, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Newscutting Water-theatre.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bodleian_Libraries,_Newscutting_annoucning_the_opening_of_Mr._Winstanly%27s_Water-theatre.jpgPublic DomainWinstanley, Henry, 1644-1703 [funder/Sponsor] Incledon, Charles Benjamin, 1763-1826 [performer] Water-theatre ([London], England) [author], Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Eddystone Lighthouse.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_Winstanley_-_Edystone_Lighthouse_-_B1998.14.341_-_Yale_Center_for_British_Art.jpgCC0Henry Winstanley, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Eddystone Lighthouse 2.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_Winstanley_-_Edystone_Lighthouse_-_B1998.14.342_-_Yale_Center_for_British_Art.jpgCC0Henry Winstanley, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Eddystone Lighthouse 3.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hamlet_Winstanley_-_Eddystone_Lighthouse_-_B1977.14.14578_-_Yale_Center_for_British_Art.jpgCC0Hamlet Winstanley, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Saint Malo.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saint-Malo_-_ch%C3%A2teau_depuis_le_Sillon.jpgCC BY 3.0Eusebius, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Louis XIV of France.pnghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Louis-XIV-of-France.pngPublic DomainCharles Le Brun, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Great Storm 1703.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:E._W._Cooke_-_Great_storm_in_the_Downs,_1703.jpgPublic DomainEdward William Cooke, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
The Storm by Daniel Defoe.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Storm_by_Daniel_Defoe_cover_page.jpgPublic DomainDaniel Defoe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Daniel Defoe.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Daniel_Defoe_Kneller_Style.jpgPublic DomainUnknownUnknown , style of Sir Godfrey Kneller, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Rudyard Lighthouse.jpeghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rudyard_lighthouse.jpegPublic DomainSamuel Smiles, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Smeaton’s Lighthouse.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Smeaton%27s_Lighthouse00.jpgPublic Domainhttp://www.wilson-benesch.com/newsblog.html, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Smeaton’s Tower – Plymouth Hoe.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Smeatons_tower_-_Plymouth_Hoe.jpgCC BY-SA 4.0Herbythyme, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No
Douglass Lighthouse.pnghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eddystone_Lighthouse_1890-1900.pngPublic Domainnot stated, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons03/09/2026No

More posts