The article chronicles the history of the Smalls lighthouse located near the village of Solva in Wales. The original structure, made of oak timbers, was constructed in 1772 by the violin-maker Henry Whiteside. By the early 19th century the Smalls was the richest lighthouse in the world, as it charged light duties for any ship that passed within 12 miles. A second version of the lighthouse made from granite was built in 1861. Today, the structure remains largely unused.