OK, this is going to seem a strange post in the middle of a skincare blog. When I had my old blog here, I wrote an entry on the fear of windmills and pylons. Basically, I’m still getting a lot of google hits to the (now deleted) article, so I’ve decided to repost it here so that people will still find the information they are after.
So, I was just browsing through the blogs of local people over at BritBlog and came upon an entry that touched me greatly. This poor blogger has an irrational fear of windmills - and not just any windmills, but specifically ones with sails. Now most people will probably snicker at such a revelation, but not me. You see, I have an irrational fear of something that one is likely to stumble upon while driving through the countryside as well. The name of this horror? Electricity pylons.
Now these things absolutely terrify me. I figure it’s something to do with my intense fear of heights and slight agoraphobia, cause where do you see these awful metal monstrosities? Yup, in the open and stretching miles into the sky. OK, miles is an exaggeration, but it may as well be true. It could also have something to do with those make-you-crap-yourself adverts I saw as a child, warning you not to touch electricity or you’ll die. Anyway, I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve turned a corner to find one looming down at me. Twilight is the worst time, because they take on this menacing silhouette against the darkening sky. I even shiver as I pass under the lines, if it’s quiet I can hear the faint buzzing of the power going through. *shudder*
To top it all off, I even have the occasional nightmare about them. Sometimes they come marching across the countryside at me, other times they fall down into my path and crush me. I think they’re possessed. You’re all looking in entirely the wrong place for the Anti-Christ - it’s name is National Grid.
Now this will surprise you though - for all my fear and loathing of pylons, I used to enjoy visiting a very unusual website dedicated to them called Pylon of the Month which is sadly now offline. Perhaps it’s because of the sheer silliness, or because I like to punish myself in some way, who knows? But strangely, I do have a weird kind of fascination and even admiration for them. Now I’d love to know what a psychiatrist makes of that!
23 comments so far
I TOTALLY know what you mean! I am terrified of windmills, water towers and am not too keen on pylons either. It’s so weird. I used to just think they were eerie but the other day I drove past the Shirley windmill in Croydon in the dark and it made me feel physically sick. I also know what you mean about still having to look at them too. I found out that they have windmill open days and I am even considering going to one. It’s horrible!
Hi Laura,
Sounds like you’ve got quite a strong phobia there. I also don’t like tall objects in open spaces but pylons are my main fear. I can cope with seeing them as long as they don’t surprise me lol.
I know exactly what you mean. I have an INTENSE fear of windmills and ceiling fans. I can’t function around them. I have to walk around them if stores have them, it can get pretty frustrating if I want something located directly under one… Windmills kill me too. I can’t drive by them or even see them on TV or in pictures without getting upset by them. No idea why but its pretty hardcore. I had to be lead around with a coat on my head when I went to the rock and roll hall of fame because theres a huge one right next door… I can’t help but glance if I see/know they’re there… It drives me nuts. But I will in no way go out of my way to visit one… I have nightmares all the time, but those are usually about huge ceiling fans and not windmills….so glad to know I’m not alone! I get teased all the time ~_~
I also have a dreadful fear of pylons. My worst nightmare came true last weekend as i walked around grafham water with friends when we turned a corner and a huge one loomed down in front of me. my friends managed to help me get past it but then told me there was about a half a mile stretch of them in front of me that i had to go pass to get back to the car. I felt i couldn’t turn back because of the one i’d just miraculously passed but i also felt i couldn’t go forward. I had visions of a helicopter having to come down and rescue me! in the end with alot patience and persuasion they managed to get me pass them. Its even making me shudder by just writing about it now. So, if you dont like pylons i’d give that place a wide berth.
I was in a business park in Dartford the other day and it was riddled with pylons and the wires streched really low above the pavement, all you could hear was this deafening buzzing and crackling from the electricity. If I was as scared of them as I am of windmills I think I would have had a heart attack! ;-0
I hate hate hate pylons, and have nightmares about them too. I had the terrors while in Venice, where there was a huge building that looked like a KKK mask. I couldn’t look at it, and had to know we were well past it before getting my head out of a dark spot. Horrible. I’m not afraid of heights though, just large things *shrugs*
Did anyone see The One Show the other night? It had a report on pylons and everyone was going on about the pylon appreciation society website, I went on it and there are some really horrible ones. It’s becoming all the rage to be a pylon spotter!
I have total total pylon phobia and its not just the pylons its the wires between, last time I walked under some I was physically sick all over the roadside so I know where your coming from. I even get freaked out driving past them, I have lots of nightmares too usually about being trapped by them and having to climb over the wires to get out. Its ruined so many walks for me having to turn back so now I get someone to lead me under them from about half a mile away, I keep my eyes shut, plug my ears and make sure they dont tell me when we are getting close. It has to be someone I trust but it works for me.
Some one suggested to me that it may be because of the arm bits as they might remind me of the daleks but Im sure the evil humming has more to do with it.
I thought I was the only one! I have been known to have panic attacks if I come across one while walking in the countryside. I feel so stupid but I’m honestly terrified of them! And I’m even more terrified of elecrticity sub-stations. Just thinking about seeing one makes me feel agitated. I need to get over it because I want to move to the countryside but I’m so scared I just don’t know where to start!
I just found out the other day that pylons are marked on maps usually a line with little crosses on it, now Im always going to check before I go somewhere new.
Whats a fear of pylons even called?
I’m very glad to see other people with a fear of pylons. the last place i worked i had to go to rotherham, uk. and theres a plant and im not kidding you cannot avoid them.and all my colleagues were laughing at me and taking the mickey. I dont know why i hate em so much they are just nasty. i cant help but look at them when i see em but they make me feel so sick.
i have mentioned before that i really hate pylons but i didn’t mention that i am just as scared of things like those huge water cooling towers and those big gas tanks (like the ones near the oval cricket ground)- i think with me its always to do with large industrial structures - does anyone else out there feel the same way as me?
Definately, I have never seen the gas tanks at oval but I will have to look out for them now! I think I am the same, any ugly industrial eye sore. I especially hate windmills and the ones out at sea are even scarier!!!
And I thought I was the only one…..
I have an intense fear of windmills. I have had this for as long as I can remember. Somebody mentioned the fear of large buildings/objects in a wide open space….yup, can totally relate to that.
Not too keen on lighthouses and wind turbines either. The Angel of the North completely freaks me out too. But it’s your old fashioned windmills that do me in the most. If I have to travel anywhere I check to see if there are any on route. I avoid Norfolk like the plague.
I’ve done EVERYTHING to try and combat it. Visited them, sat by them and had a picnic….but I still hate them. My worst nightmare is that Kinderdijk place in Holland…..makes me shudder just thinking about it. 30 odd windmills in one area.
Tower mills freak me out more than post mills. Windmills just seem to jump out at you from nowhere in this country….big black buggers with white sails……I’m going to stop know because i’m freaking myself out by writing about it.
So glad other people have this fear. I totally get the pylons thing too. We should form a group or something.
I only just found this website and i really thought i was the only one scared of pylons, i really am scared of them and had quite a few incidents where ive been too scared and walked back on my walks through the countryside. nice to know im not the only one,I’m scared of all big indutrail type structures.
I just came back from my hols in sunny West Sussex and visited 4 windmills…..yes 4!!! Still put the willies up me like nothing else but I have this morbid obsession with seeking them out. I walked right beneath the sails of one which were literally inches above my head (Selsey Mill) and it completely freaked me out.
I even took a detour on the way home and visited the windmill at Rottingdean (nr Brighton) which is, I suspect, the windmill that started my phobia off 36 years ago!!! Nasty nasty nasty bugger that it is!!!
But I think I was extremely brave! Still hate them tho :o)
I don’t know how you physically managed to stand that close, I don’t think my legs would have let me! I feel the same as you though, they freak me out so much but I would still actively seek them out… I have no idea why. It’s a very unusaul reaction to a phobia…
I just googled that windmill at Rottingdean and it is officially the ugliest one I have ever seen and it’s completely black. It’s horrible, cringe!!!
Exactly (regarding Rottingdean)!! The worst thing is it’s on the coastal road coming out of Brighton towards Peacehaven/Newhaven and it is on a golf course - no trees, no bushes, nothing, just an expanse of space and that big black horror in the middle of it against the sky……and on the other side is the edge of the cliffs and then the sea….so it’s literally the biggest thing around…….horrible!! I wouldn’t get out of the car - my other half had to take the photo!
I’m making up an album of photo’s on my facebook page devoted to all the windmills I’ve visited in the UK. I’m determined to visit all of them even tho I hate them! One of the worst I’ve seen (apart from Rottingdean) is the one at Diss in Norfolk, it’s huge!!!! I’m gonna try to get to see Sibley Arms mill in Lincolnshire too…..it is huge, black and has 8 sails!!!*shudders*
I have to see quickly tho that after seeing Rottingdean Windmill (how strange, I don’t even like looking at or typing the word ‘windmill’) whilst travelling away from it a bit further down the road I had a delayed panic attack……you would think I would learn by now!
Oh my goodness thank god I am not alone. I too have the most terribe fear of windmills and thought I was going crazy! I have spent the whole weekend trying to google this and find out if anybody else had the same probelm as me. I too live in Brighton. I think this is only a recent fear for me but thankfully I do not pass too many. It was only the other week when I had to drive down Mill Road and I saw the windmill on the lefthand side in my vision. I panicked and felt sick and had to get past it as quickly as I could even though I had a distinct urge to keep looking at it whilst driving! Then the other day I had to drive past the Rottingdean Windmill, well it was the worst windmill I have ever seen, big ugly scary black, sinister and massive sails. There must be a psychological reason for this!! maybe we should all meet up and conquer this together, the thought of standing near one though makes me feel sick and feint!
I am so glad I am not alone…..Emma
Oh my god.. I was cwondering what the fear of Pylons was called but i came across this site! I NEVER ever thought I would meet other people scared of pylons!
I am so scared of them it’s unreal.. especialy the ones that turn a corner.. i have to walk past 1 to work every cday and what makes it worse is that I have to look the other way and it open out into a massive field uhhit’s just horrible I cant even explain!
I know what every1 means about the winmills and things like that. I sanyone also scared of those massive metal things that plunge in2 the sea.. Omg they scare me too!
But I say get differnt pylons.. ones that aren’t every where lol!!
Glad im not the onlt one wit this weird fear!!!!
Dont feel so odd!
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