Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.10378
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    Rudyard’s Lighthouse on the Eddystone Rocks

    Date
    1784
    Creator
    James Record (British) , Engraver
    Object type
    Library reference
    R63812
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 490mm
    width (print): 310mm
    Subject
    Content object
    Description
    Depiction of the south elevation and section of the second lighthouse built upon the Eddystone Rocks, near Plymouth, following the destruction in 1703 of Henry Winstanley’s first version. This second lighthouse, a conical wooden structure built around a core of brick and concrete, was constructed under the management of the silk merchant and property developer John Rudyard (or Rudyerd; 1650- ca.1718). It was completed in 1709 and destroyed by a fire in 1755, subsequently replaced by the famous Smeaton lighthouse.

    Plate 6 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 & SECTION of RUDYERD’S LIGHTHOUSE, Completed in 1709; represented as it stood previous to its demolition by Fire in the Year 1755.’

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