The History of Eddystone Lighthouse
The Eddystone Lighthouse stands on the Eddystone Rocks, around 14 miles southwest of Plymouth in Devon. These rocks have long been one of the most dangerous hazards for ships approaching the English Channel.
Over the centuries, five different lighthouses have been built on this isolated reef to warn passing vessels.
From land, the current Eddystone Lighthouse can only occasionally be seen on a clear night. The cliffs around Polperro, Talland and Looe offer some of the best chances of catching a distant glimpse.
Winstanley’s Lighthouse (1698–1703)
What is now Devonport Naval Dockyard was established in 1690. Recognising the danger posed by the Eddystone Rocks, King William III commissioned engineer Henry Winstanley to design and build a lighthouse.
Construction began in July 1696. On 14 November 1698, the light was first lit, making it the world’s first offshore lighthouse.
The structure was largely built from wood and proved vulnerable to the harsh winter seas. It had to be almost completely rebuilt the following year.
The second version was stronger and larger, but its life was short. In 1703, the Great Storm of 1703 destroyed the lighthouse entirely. Tragically, it swept away the lighthouse, its keepers, and Henry Winstanley himself, who had travelled out to the structure to oversee improvements.
Rudyerd’s Lighthouse (1709–1755)
In 1708, merchant and engineer John Rudyerd began construction of the next lighthouse.
Compared with Winstanley’s design, Rudyerd’s lighthouse was far more streamlined. The tower tapered upward to reduce the force of waves, while its base was heavily ballasted with stone for stability.
This design proved much more successful and stood for 47 years.
However, in December 1755 disaster struck. Candles used in the lantern accidentally set fire to the roof. The wooden structure quickly caught alight.
The three lighthouse keepers were rescued the following day. Sadly, one later died after swallowing molten lead that had dripped down from the burning lantern roof.
Smeaton’s Lighthouse (1759–1877)
Construction of the next lighthouse began in 1756 under civil engineer John Smeaton.
Smeaton’s design revolutionised lighthouse construction. Built from granite blocks with interlocking dovetail joints, the tower was modelled on the shape of an oak tree, wider at the base for strength against the waves.
Quick-setting cement was used to bind the stones together, creating a structure far stronger than its predecessors.
The lighthouse took three years to build and quickly became a model for lighthouse engineering around the world.
After 127 years of service, however, cracks began to appear in the rock foundations. The tower was dismantled in 1877 and rebuilt on Plymouth Hoe, where it still stands today as a monument to early lighthouse engineering.
Douglass’ Lighthouse (1882–Present)
The current Eddystone Lighthouse, the fifth structure on the reef, was designed by engineer James Douglass and completed in 1882.
This granite tower remains in service today and has undergone several modern upgrades:
- Converted from oil lamps to electric lighting in 1956
- A helideck added in 1980
- Fully automated in 1982, removing the need for resident keepers
Despite these changes, the lighthouse continues to serve the same purpose it has for more than three centuries, guiding ships safely past the dangerous Eddystone Rocks.
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