Often regarded as the so-called Father of Civil Engineering, John Smeaton may not be a household name, but he’s a legend among engineers and lighthouse enthusiasts. Designer of the third Eddystone Lighthouse in 1755, Smeaton revolutionised lighthouse engineering and pioneered the use of hydraulic lime – a discovery which eventually led to the development of modern concrete.
For a hundred years, Smeaton’s Eddystone Lighthouse enabled Plymouth-bound ships to navigate the treacherous waters around the Eddystone Rocks. Dismantled due to erosion in 1882, the lighthouse was partially rebuilt at nearby Plymouth Hoe, where it stands to this day as a fitting memorial to John Smeaton himself. Now open to the public, Smeaton’s Tower boasts amazing views over the Plymouth Sound and the surrounding city.
This design shows Smeaton’s Tower in all of its glory, ‘a monument to Smeaton’s genius, and in commemoration of one of the most successful, useful and instructive works ever accomplished in civil engineering.’
