Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.10377
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    Winstanley’s Lighthouse on the Eddystone Rocks

    Date
    1762
    Creator
    Henry Roberts (1705, British) , Engraver
    Object type
    Library reference
    R63812
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 570mm
    width (print): 350mm
    Subject
    Content object
    Description
    Depiction of the south elevation of the first lighthouse built upon the Eddystone Rocks, near Plymouth. The lighthouse was built in 1696-99 by the English engineer Henry Winstanley (1644-1703), and was destroyed in the Great Storm of 27 November 1703, which killed Winstanley and five other men. This lighthouse was subsequently replaced by a design by John Rudyard.

    Roberts’s 1762 engraving is based on an earlier orthographic drawing from a perspective print. It was republished as plate 5 of A narrative of the building and a description of the construction of the Edystone lighthouse with stone, by John Smeaton (London, 1791). The Royal Society’s copy was donated by the author on 20 January 1791.

    The plate is inscribed: ‘South ELEVATION of WINSTANLEY’S LIGHTHOUSE, upon the EDYSTONE ROCK, As it was finished in the Year 1699. Drawn Orthographically from a Perspective Print thereof, Published by himself.’

    Includes scale: 1 inch = 6 feet
    Associated place
    <The World>
       > Europe
          > United Kingdom
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