Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.10381
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Ideas for Smeaton’s Lighthouse on the Eddystone Rocks
Date
1786
Creator
James Record (British) , Engraver
Object type
Library reference
R63812
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (print): 500mm
width (print): 340mm
width (print): 340mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Depiction of the third lighthouse built upon the Eddystone Rocks, near Plymouth.
Figures 1 and 2 show observations by the civil engineer John Smeaton (1724-1792) on how his lighthouse (shown in figure 6) should be modelled on the trunk and boughs of an oak tree; figures 3 and 4 show Smeaton’s technique of dovetailing masonry for added strength; and figure 5 shows the dovetailing technique from a vertical perspective.
The third lighthouse was built following the destruction of earlier versions designed by Henry Winstanley (1644-1703), and John Rudyard (or Rudyerd; 1650- ca.1718). The Royal Society recommended the civil engineer John Smeaton (1724-1792) for the job; his lighthouse was completed in 1759.
Plate 13 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: ‘Original IDEAS, HINTS, & SKETCHES, from where the FORM of the PRESENT BUILDING was taken.’
Includes scale: 1 inch = 12 feet
Figures 1 and 2 show observations by the civil engineer John Smeaton (1724-1792) on how his lighthouse (shown in figure 6) should be modelled on the trunk and boughs of an oak tree; figures 3 and 4 show Smeaton’s technique of dovetailing masonry for added strength; and figure 5 shows the dovetailing technique from a vertical perspective.
The third lighthouse was built following the destruction of earlier versions designed by Henry Winstanley (1644-1703), and John Rudyard (or Rudyerd; 1650- ca.1718). The Royal Society recommended the civil engineer John Smeaton (1724-1792) for the job; his lighthouse was completed in 1759.
Plate 13 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: ‘Original IDEAS, HINTS, & SKETCHES, from where the FORM of the PRESENT BUILDING was taken.’
Includes scale: 1 inch = 12 feet
Object history
The lighthouse remained in use until 1877, and was then re-erected on Plymouth Hoe, where it still stands as a tourist attraction. It can be seen in the background in the Royal Society’s two portraits of John Smeaton.
Associated place