John Smeaton He pioneered the use of 'hydraulic lime' (a form of mortar that will set under water) and developed a technique involving dovetailed blocks of granite in the building of the lighthouse. His lighthouse remained in use until 1877 when the rock underlying the structure's foundations had begun to erode; it was dismantled and partially rebuilt at Plymouth Hoe where it is known as Smeaton's Tower. Deciding that he wanted to focus on the lucrative field of civil engineering, he commenced an extensive series of commissions, including: Smeaton is considered to be the first expert witness to appear in an English
Anvil Point Lighthouse Anvil Point Lighthouse The Anvil Point Lighthouse is a lighthouse located near Swanage in Dorset, southern England. The lighthouse is built of local stone and was completed in 1881. It was opened by Neville Chamberlain's father, then Minister of Transport. The lighthouse tower is twelve metres tall, the height of the light above the high-water mark is . The light is positioned to give a waypoint for vessels passing along the English Channel coast. Originally the light was illuminated by a paraffin vapour burner (PVB). During 1960, the lighthouse was modernised and electrified. It was fully automated on 31 May