Mislaid plaque returned to Plymouth lighthouse

John Smeaton's engineering know-how changed lighthouse-building forever

A plaque commemorating the man who built Plymouth's landmark lighthouse has been returned to its rightful place, having been misplaced decades ago.

The brass memorial to John Smeaton, whose use of interlocking stone blocks revolutionised lighthouse design, was mislaid during renovations sometime in the early 2000s.

To mark the 300th anniversary of his birth, the plaque has been put back in Smeaton's Tower, the lighthouse bearing his name on Plymouth Hoe.

The unveiling took place on the 265th anniversary of the candles first being lit in the lighthouse in its original position on Eddystone Rock, 14 miles (22.5km) off the coast of Plymouth.

Smeaton's Tower, the symbol of Plymouth, on The Hoe

The lighthouse was built in 1759 and the upper part rebuilt and opened on The Hoe in 1884, as a memorial to Smeaton and the dedication of generations of lighthouse keepers.

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) said Smeaton was the first person to describe himself as a civil engineer and remained one of the profession's most important historic figures worldwide.

"Smeaton was the stand-out engineer of his age," said Miranda Housden, ICE's regional director.

"Smeaton's Tower appears on the ICE's coat of arms and we like to think of him as the father of civil engineering."

"He represents what civil engineers can do - their creativity," she added.

Miranda Housden and Steve Conway are pictured in front of the plaque

The International Historic Landmark plaque was first unveiled in 1992 by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), ICE, and the Lord Mayor of Plymouth.

It was removed for safekeeping during renovations and spent some time in a corner before finding its way to the desk of a curator, where it was rediscovered and restored ready for reinstallation, said Steve Conway, collections manager at museum The Box.

It was re-unveiled at 09:00 BST by Ms Housden, Mr Conway and Ian Parke, president of the ASCE United Kingdom Chapter.

"Smeaton's innovative design and use of materials has withstood the test of time and helped advance civil engineering and public safety," said Mr Parke.