Smeaton’s Tower

A famous landmark on Plymouth’s Hoe, it was originally built on the Eddystone reef in 1759. However, it was removed in the early 1880s when it was found that the sea was undermining the rock underneath. Most of the structure was moved stone by stone to its current place on Plymouth Hoe where it now stands as a memorial to the engineer and designer, John Smeaton. It has been a Grade 1 listed building since 1954. I have lost count of the times I’ve climbed the 93 steps and ladders up this 72 ft high tower, usually to show a relative or friend the sights of Plymouth Sound and the city when they came to visit! It’s open to the public all year round (apart from Christmas and Good Friday).