Smeatons Collection

Eddystone Lighthouse, south of Plymouth, Devon
View of the Eddystone Lighthouse, south of Plymouth, Devon, with the stub of Smeatons Tower on the left. Photograph taken before the helipad was added to the top of the lighthouse

Plymouth from Smeaton's Tower, Victorian period Date: late 19th century

Eddystone Lighthouse cross-section, 1759
Engraving, showing the rooms of John Smeatons Eddystone Lighthouse (built 1759). This lighthouse operated between 1759 and 1882, being replaced due to erosion of its foundations

Smeatons Home
SMEATONs home at Austhorpe Date: 1792

Smeatons Grave
SMEATONs grave in Whitkirk church. Date: 1792

View of the harbour and pier at St Ives, Cornwall
A view of the harbour and Smeatons Pier at St Ives, Cornwall, with a range of boats. Two little girls in large-brimmed hats and smocks are doing some beachcombing

Eddystone Lighthouse Lantern, 1882
Engraving showing the difference between the six-wick burner lantern used in Douglasss Eddystone lighthouse of 1882 (on left)

Official Opening of the Eddystone Lighthouse, May 1882
Engraving of the opening of the new Eddystone Lighthouse by the Duke of Edinburgh. The new lighthouse, designed by Sir James Douglass, can be seen to the left of the older one, built by John Smeaton

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Smeaton's Tower: A Historic Beacon of Hope and Navigation Once standing proudly as the fourth leg of Plymouth's famous Eddystone Lighthouse trio, Smeaton's Tower in Devon tells a captivating tale of maritime resilience and innovation. Erected in 1698, the first Smeaton's Tower was a remarkable 72 feet tall, designed by John Smeaton, and served as a lighthouse until 1804 when it was dismantled and rebuilt as a landmark in Plymouth Hoe. The second and third Eddystone Lighthouses, located south of Plymouth, met unfortunate ends due to storms and fires. During the Victorian period, Smeaton's Tower offered a panoramic view of Plymouth, with the bustling harbor and pier at St Ives, Cornwall, visible in the distance. The third Eddystone Lighthouse, completed in 1882, stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of innovation, featuring a cross-section design inspired by Smeaton's original tower. John Smeaton's legacy lives on, not only through the iconic Eddystone Lighthouse but also at his humble home in Devon and his final resting place in the churchyard of St. Mary's Parish Church in Plymouth. The Official Opening of the Eddystone Lighthouse in May 1882 marked a new era of safety and progress for mariners, with the lantern's beacon shining brightly, a beacon of hope and guidance for centuries to come.