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Smeaton's Tower
A Lighthouse Re-situated
Stand on Plymouth Hoe on a clear day, look to the south and on the horizon some fourteen miles away stands the Eddystone lighthouse. Protecting shipping from the notorious Eddystone Rock hazard, this is the fourth lighthouse to be built there, look closer to the right and you can see the foundation remains of it's predecessor, Smeaton's Tower.
In 1756, John Smeaton was approached by The Royal Society to come up with a design for the third Eddystone lighthouse. The design structure of the tower was revolutionary, based on a tree and consisting of over one thousand tons of granite and Portland stone, the 1,493 blocks were laid to resemble the rings of a tree, dove-tail jointed together with marble dowels and oak pins, allowing it to move in treacherous weather without collapsing. In 1759 and at a cost of £40,000 the third Eddystone lighthouse, Smeaton's Tower was completed. For 120 years the lighthouse warned shipping of this treacherous rock, it would probably still be standing there today if not for the sea's constant battering against the foundation stone causing it to weaken.
The present Eddystone lighthouse was built to replace it and
John Smeaton's tower was dismantled in the late 1880's for fear of it collapsing into the new lighthouse. Stone by stone, approximately two thirds of it was rebuilt on the new site— Plymouth Hoe. We see it today, in it's splendid glory, forming Plymouth's most well known landmark.
Smeaton's Tower is open to the public throughout the year, with the exception of the Christmas period and Good Friday. Climb the 93 steps to the lamp room, and take in the panoramic views of Plymouth's surroundings that John Smeaton's creation has to offer.
On an additional note, John Smeaton also invented quick drying cement!
