Inspired by Smeaton's Tower
21 March 2025
As we get ready to re-open Smeaton's Tower for summer 2025, we're taking a look at some of the items on display in our Port gallery that have either been inspired by or connected to key moments in the story of this iconic lighthouse.
1 An immersive film
Our brilliant immersive film that sets the scene for visitors when they start their journey around our first floor galleries. The film talks about the lighthouse that have stood on the notorious Eddystone Reef as well as many other aspects of the city’s history – and is narrated by none other than Dawn French!
There’s another film in the Port gallery narrated by Dawn titled ‘Engineering Plymouth’ which was created by the Institution of Civil Engineers and includes some great animation work, as well as more lighthouse information. Watch it while you’re in the gallery or take a look online.
2 A commemorative token
Tokens like these were issued in 1757 during the construction of Smeaton’s Tower.
This object can be seen in a display case in the Port gallery with some other beautiful items, including the Winstanley Salt – a giant silver salt cellar dating from the 1600s that commemorates the first Eddystone lighthouse built by Henry Winstanley between 1698 and 1703, and the Douglass Lighthouse Trowel – another silver object created to mark the opening of the current Eddystone lighthouse which has stood on the reef since 1882.
3 An iconic artwork
This stunning painting by William Daniell shows Smeaton’s Tower standing strong on the reef during The Great Storm of 1824 – a hurricane force wind and storm surge that hit the south coast of England on 22 November 1824.
This iconic work with its dramatic contrast between the swelling darkness of the sea and the light beaming from the lantern room is a real visitor favourite.
A diary extract from one of the lightkeepers at the Eddystone at the time (John Authur Esq) painted a vivid description of the storm:
The sea was tremendous, and broke with such violence on the top and round the building…..The house shook…..and at times the whole building appeared to jump as if resting on an elastic body. The water came from the top of the building in such quantities, that we were overwhelmed.
4 Fascinating prints
Smeaton’s Tower set the pattern for lighthouse construction for years when it was built. A ground breaking example of civil engineering, it used an ingenious design inspired by an oak tree with dovetailed granite blocks and a slightly curved profile which gave the building a low centre of gravity and made it extremely robust.
These prints in the Port gallery show how the lighthouse compares to an oak tree and are taken from ‘A narrative of the Building and Description of the Construction of the Eddystone Lighthouse with Stone’ by John Smeaton.
To experience the real Smeaton's Tower, why not visit our landmark lighthouse on Plymouth Hoe from Tuesday 1 April when it re-opens? Opening hours are 10am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday and selected bank holidays (closed Easter Sunday) until late September. It will also be open on weekends and for half term in October. Plan your visit and find out more.