Smeaton'S Tower And Plymouth Hoe: An Unsurpassed Lighthouse

<h1>Smeaton'S Tower And Plymouth Hoe: An Unsurpassed Lighthouse </h1>Author: <a title="Pushpitha Wijesinghe" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/pushpitha-wijesinghe/121492.htm">Pushpitha Wijesinghe</a> Smeaton's Tower is a lighthouse beautifully positioned on Plymouth Hoe. The initial lighthouse was constructed on Eddystone Rocks some 14 miles from Plymouth Sound. It was designed by Henry Winstanley and was built in 1695. However, this wooden tower was entirely destroyed due to a storm that occurred in 1703. Even though the architect was confident that the tower can withstand any natural disaster, it wasn’t so and thereby it cost Winstanley his own life. It was in 1711 that John Rudyerd erected the second tower in the very same location. However, that too was destroyed due to a fire in 1755. Following this devastation, John Smeaton was requested by the Royal Society to initiate a design concept for the third lighthouse. In December 1756, John Smeaton and his team started work on the third Eddystone light. Smeaton was inspired by an oak tree. He envisaged a soaring object that can endure even the strongest of winds. He constructed the third tower exactly according to how he had imagined. Smeaton and his men used 1,493 stone blocks and made a tower just like a tree fixed together with the use of oak pins as well as marble dowels. Similar to a tree swaying to and fro due to the wind, Smeaton’s tower never shattered even because of raging storms. As a result of this inconceivable and innovative construction most lighthouses constructed on rocks today use this as a model. For nearly 120 years, Smeaton’s tower provided direction and protection to many shipping vessels. It would have been standing tall and strong even today if the rock foundation of which the tower was standing upon did not erode due to the constant beating of waves. Eventually Smeaton’s tower was completely dismantled and a new tower was erected in 1882 on Plymouth Hoe. Even today this tower stands as a constant reminder of the work of the great engineer John Smeaton. There are many other attractions, restaurants and entertainment venues located near Smeaton’s tower on Plymouth Hoe. Numerous <a href="http://www.millenniumhotels.co.uk/copthorneplymouth/index.html" target="_blank">Plymouth hotels</a> also located within close proximity provides the perfect setting for travellers in search of unsurpassed levels of quality and higher standards of excellence.About the Author: Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/smeatons-tower-and-plymouth-hoe-an-unsurpassed-lighthouse--798729.html" title="Smeaton'S Tower And Plymouth Hoe: An Unsurpassed Lighthouse ">Smeaton'S Tower And Plymouth Hoe: An Unsurpassed Lighthouse </a>

Smeaton's Tower is a lighthouse beautifully positioned on Plymouth Hoe. The initial lighthouse was constructed on Eddystone Rocks some 14 miles from Plymouth Sound. It was designed by Henry Winstanley and was built in 1695. However, this wooden tower was entirely destroyed due to a storm that occurred in 1703. Even though the architect was confident that the tower can withstand any natural disaster, it wasn’t so and thereby it cost Winstanley his own life.

It was in 1711 that John Rudyerd erected the second tower in the very same location. However, that too was destroyed due to a fire in 1755. Following this devastation, John Smeaton was requested by the Royal Society to initiate a design concept for the third lighthouse. In December 1756, John Smeaton and his team started work on the third Eddystone light.
Smeaton was inspired by an oak tree. He envisaged a soaring object that can endure even the strongest of winds. He constructed the third tower exactly according to how he had imagined. Smeaton and his men used 1,493 stone blocks and made a tower just like a tree fixed together with the use of oak pins as well as marble dowels.
Similar to a tree swaying to and fro due to the wind, Smeaton’s tower never shattered even because of raging storms. As a result of this inconceivable and innovative construction most lighthouses constructed on rocks today use this as a model.
For nearly 120 years, Smeaton’s tower provided direction and protection to many shipping vessels. It would have been standing tall and strong even today if the rock foundation of which the tower was standing upon did not erode due to the constant beating of waves.
Eventually Smeaton’s tower was completely dismantled and a new tower was erected in 1882 on Plymouth Hoe. Even today this tower stands as a constant reminder of the work of the great engineer John Smeaton.
There are many other attractions, restaurants and entertainment venues located near Smeaton’s tower on Plymouth Hoe. Numerous Plymouth hotels also located within close proximity provides the perfect setting for travellers in search of unsurpassed levels of quality and higher standards of excellence.

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

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Article Tags: smeaton's tower, plymouth hoe, eddystone rocks, henry winstanley, john rudyerd, john smeaton

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