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Henry Winstanley and the Eddystone Lighthouse
On 26 November 1703, during the worst storm that Britain had ever seen, Henry Winstanley died in his pioneering lighthouse as it was blown apart. He had defied incredible odds to build the first Eddystone Lighthouse in 1698, saving the lives of many sailors from the fate of the thousands who previously died upon the rocks. The Great Gale not only destroyed the man and his lighthouse, but also saw complete devastation throughout the land. And at sea, some 8000 sailors were drowned that night, within yards of the land. Winstanley was an ingenious man. He owned a house of gadgets which was one of London's foremost attractions for decades. In 1695, two of his five ships were lost on Eddystone. He was determined that no more ships should founder and, though thwarted by weather and politics, he built a lighthouse, the first of its kind. It survived terrible winters and withstood devastating storms, guiding ships away from the treacherous rocks that lay ahead with its dim candlelight. After the great storm it was as if the lighthouse had never been. Ultimately, Winstanley's lighthouse led to the building of others on the Eddystone rocks and beyond, thus transforming the safety of shipping. This illustrated work vividly recreates the story of the Eddystone Lighthouse, the character of the man who built it with grim determination fighting against all odds, and the power of the elements that finally destroyed them both.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1980
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 8, 2018
What manner of creatures may be those
That build upon the sea?
The Eddystone rocks are a dangerous set of reefs that have sunk many a ship trying to enter the English Channel. During high tide, the rocks are covered. It became such a problem that when Henry Winstanley's own ship went down with all hands in the late 17th-century, he decided to do something about it.
Winstanley was a man way ahead of his time. Self-made, he was a builder and inventor, so he considered the almost insurmountable task of building a warning light atop the frequently submerged reef to be something that would enhance his reputation.
For all his looks that are so stout,
And his speeches brave and fair,
He may wait on the wind, wait on the wave,
But he'll build no lighthouse there.
Without the tools we currently have, it took him years to get something started (just drilling into the rock took forever) and the first light was lit in 1698. This was a warning beacon shaped like a tour-de-force.
The 'lighthouse that couldn't be built' was a success, until the great Storm of 1703.
Winstanley had rowed out to the lighthouse just as the storm was getting going, against the advice of the fishermen who warned him no good could come of it.
One hundred feet, the rising seas ascend!
Can mortal works, such mighty powers withstand?
Oh Winstanley! why thus presumptuous try
To equal powers that have their strength on high?
The Great Storm of 1703 killed thousands of humans and animals. Ships sank with at least 1,500 sailors drowned (many within anchorage of safe harbours). When the sun rose the next day and the fishermen looked to sea, the famous Eddystone Lighthouse was gone, with just a stump showing. Henry Winstanley and his five workers were never seen again.
In wat'ry tomb the Architect expires,
And dies unseen: - to silent Death retires.
The effect of the beacon's loss and its occupants was immediate. The Winchelsea, arriving battered but sailable from its West Indies voyage, slammed into the reefs and sank with all hands.
This is a fairly short book which made the reading move along quickly. However, it's more than just a story about Henry Winstanley and his works. The author takes time to highlight other subjects, such as Charles II's mistresses, the ancient Pharos Lighthouse, the Glorious Revolution, Louis XIV, and the advent of the English Coffee-House. You won't be bored.
Book Season = Winter (tempests rage)
That build upon the sea?
The Eddystone rocks are a dangerous set of reefs that have sunk many a ship trying to enter the English Channel. During high tide, the rocks are covered. It became such a problem that when Henry Winstanley's own ship went down with all hands in the late 17th-century, he decided to do something about it.
Winstanley was a man way ahead of his time. Self-made, he was a builder and inventor, so he considered the almost insurmountable task of building a warning light atop the frequently submerged reef to be something that would enhance his reputation.
For all his looks that are so stout,
And his speeches brave and fair,
He may wait on the wind, wait on the wave,
But he'll build no lighthouse there.
Without the tools we currently have, it took him years to get something started (just drilling into the rock took forever) and the first light was lit in 1698. This was a warning beacon shaped like a tour-de-force.
The 'lighthouse that couldn't be built' was a success, until the great Storm of 1703.
Winstanley had rowed out to the lighthouse just as the storm was getting going, against the advice of the fishermen who warned him no good could come of it.
One hundred feet, the rising seas ascend!
Can mortal works, such mighty powers withstand?
Oh Winstanley! why thus presumptuous try
To equal powers that have their strength on high?
The Great Storm of 1703 killed thousands of humans and animals. Ships sank with at least 1,500 sailors drowned (many within anchorage of safe harbours). When the sun rose the next day and the fishermen looked to sea, the famous Eddystone Lighthouse was gone, with just a stump showing. Henry Winstanley and his five workers were never seen again.
In wat'ry tomb the Architect expires,
And dies unseen: - to silent Death retires.
The effect of the beacon's loss and its occupants was immediate. The Winchelsea, arriving battered but sailable from its West Indies voyage, slammed into the reefs and sank with all hands.
This is a fairly short book which made the reading move along quickly. However, it's more than just a story about Henry Winstanley and his works. The author takes time to highlight other subjects, such as Charles II's mistresses, the ancient Pharos Lighthouse, the Glorious Revolution, Louis XIV, and the advent of the English Coffee-House. You won't be bored.
Book Season = Winter (tempests rage)
March 21, 2021
Interesting portrait of the guy (with a big ego) who built the first wave swept lighthouse. Not a lot of thought put into safety or practicality. Neat details of his life, relationship with the king, and other inventions/ideas, though
September 9, 2021
I like short history books. Enjoyable read, this one, but couldn’t quite give it 4 stars.
October 31, 2023
This was a great little book about the making of a lighthouse off the coast of England in the late 17th century. The writers do an excellent job of balancing their main story of Henry Winstanley building his lighthouse with many background stories, from King Charles II to the history of lighthouses to the day to day life in the remote parts of southern England during that time. And the book has a wallop of an ending that I wouldn’t want to spoil future readers. Good stuff!
May 3, 2019
This book is a biography of Henry Winstanley, the man whose life (and death) became intractably linked with the first Eddystone Lighthouse.
The Eddystone rocks – an outcrop of slippery, sloping gneiss that barely pokes above sea level, even at low tide – have claimed thousands of lives. When Winstanley, already an accomplished architect, lost a ship of his own and decided to build a lighthouse, everyone thought he was mad. And perhaps he was: the rocks are 14 miles south of Plymouth – a six-hour haul (by rowing boat) in each direction – and they experience such bad weather, the workmen often had to turn back without even being able to land. It took two months just to pick-axe the anchor holes (after which they had to break for winter). Construction took two and a half years in total.
This books explores not only the rocks, the lighthouse, and Winstanley’s life, but also England’s political and social background of the events leading up to the calamitous storm of November 1703.
I enjoyed the writing – the book was easy to read, and the descriptions of the lighthouse’s construction fascinating. There was one jarring section (presumably written by Troscianko), which included the line “Adam should know because he has done it,” and this came out of the blue in an otherwise non-personal narrative.
This was an engaging book, packed full of a wide range of information. I enjoyed it.
The Eddystone rocks – an outcrop of slippery, sloping gneiss that barely pokes above sea level, even at low tide – have claimed thousands of lives. When Winstanley, already an accomplished architect, lost a ship of his own and decided to build a lighthouse, everyone thought he was mad. And perhaps he was: the rocks are 14 miles south of Plymouth – a six-hour haul (by rowing boat) in each direction – and they experience such bad weather, the workmen often had to turn back without even being able to land. It took two months just to pick-axe the anchor holes (after which they had to break for winter). Construction took two and a half years in total.
This books explores not only the rocks, the lighthouse, and Winstanley’s life, but also England’s political and social background of the events leading up to the calamitous storm of November 1703.
I enjoyed the writing – the book was easy to read, and the descriptions of the lighthouse’s construction fascinating. There was one jarring section (presumably written by Troscianko), which included the line “Adam should know because he has done it,” and this came out of the blue in an otherwise non-personal narrative.
This was an engaging book, packed full of a wide range of information. I enjoyed it.
January 1, 2013
A nicely told story of a slightly obscure but colourful character. The main theme of the book is the building of the first lighthouse at Eddystone. That in itself was a sterling achievement. The image of the first workers chipping into the rock, an inch at time, miles from the shore, with the tide ever rising is a powerful one. When they finally, after so many months, get as far as putting in iron bars ( as tall as a man and as thick as his arm) you begin to take in the immensity of what was done. And of course, the subsequent completion of the lighthouse with all its strange additions are great fun.
But for me I loved all the descriptions of Winstanley's "other life" as, effectively, a showman. Who knew about the fun house? I so wanted to try the amazing machine that would serve multiple drinks from the same spout, as if by magic, see the waterworks, experience the rides.
Blow the lighthouse. I think a seventeenth century theme park is in order.
Read it. It's fab.
But for me I loved all the descriptions of Winstanley's "other life" as, effectively, a showman. Who knew about the fun house? I so wanted to try the amazing machine that would serve multiple drinks from the same spout, as if by magic, see the waterworks, experience the rides.
Blow the lighthouse. I think a seventeenth century theme park is in order.
Read it. It's fab.
January 6, 2015
A delightfully written and thoroughly engaging slice of history.
Detailing one man's dogged determination to protect ships from a dangerous reef, this is the story of how perhaps the world's most famous lighthouse came into being.
He battles nature, politics, science and war to make a giant engineering leap forward and this book perfectly captures the spirit of adventure and essence of this adventure.
Detailing one man's dogged determination to protect ships from a dangerous reef, this is the story of how perhaps the world's most famous lighthouse came into being.
He battles nature, politics, science and war to make a giant engineering leap forward and this book perfectly captures the spirit of adventure and essence of this adventure.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews