Smeaton's Tower stood were becoming eroded. Each time a large wave hit, the lighthouse shook from side to side. Smeaton's Tower ceased operation in 1879 with the illumination of Douglass's Tower on an adjacent rock. In 1882 the upper part of Smeaton's Tower was dismantled and rebuilt as a memorial to Smeaton on a new base on Plymouth Hoe, replacing the triangular obelisk that had been built there by Trinity House as a navigation aid in the early 19th century. It was opened to the public by the Mayor of Plymouth on 24 September 1884. The foundation and stub of the old
Eddystone Lighthouse allow maintenance crews access. The helipad has a weight limit of 3600kg. The tower is high, and its white light flashes twice every 10 seconds. The light is visible to , and is supplemented by a foghorn of 3 blasts every 62 seconds. John Smeaton – A Narrative of the Building and Description of the Eddystone Lighthouse with Stone – London 1793 Palmer, Mike; Eddystone, The Finger of Light – First published by Palmridge Publishing in 1998 – Revised edition published in 2005 by Seafarer Books & Globe Pequot Press / Sheridan House – Copyright © 2005 by Mike Palmer