- Eddystone Lighthouse is in Devon, England.
- Famous offshore tower, several rebuilds
- Check access, weather and local guidance before travelling.
About Eddystone Lighthouse
The Eddystone Lighthouse stands on the treacherous Eddystone Rocks, 14 miles off Plymouth, and is the fourth tower to occupy the site — making it the most rebuilt lighthouse in the world. The current tower, known as Douglass's Lighthouse, has stood since 1882.
The story of Eddystone Lighthouse
The first Eddystone light was built by Henry Winstanley in 1698 but was destroyed, along with its builder, in the great storm of 1703. John Rudyerd's wooden replacement of 1709 burned down in 1755. The third tower, built in 1759 by John Smeaton, was the first properly engineered masonry lighthouse and used hydraulic lime that hardened underwater, pioneering modern lighthouse construction. Smeaton's tower stood until 1882 when the rocks beneath it cracked; it was dismantled and rebuilt on Plymouth Hoe, where it still stands. The present tower was built in 1882 by Sir James Douglass.
Visiting with care
The lighthouse itself stands offshore and cannot be visited, but Smeaton's 1759 tower, dismantled and re-erected on Plymouth Hoe, is open to the public and gives a vivid sense of the original structure. Boat trips from Plymouth also pass the present Eddystone tower on calm days.
Interesting facts
- The first tower, built by Henry Winstanley in 1698, destroyed him in 1703.
- John Smeaton's 1759 tower pioneered hydraulic lime concrete that set underwater.
- Smeaton's tower was rebuilt on Plymouth Hoe when the rock beneath it cracked.
- The present tower, by Sir James Douglass, has stood since 1882.
Getting there
Parking and access details — check locally for the latest information.