Smeaton's Tower. Historical diagram illustrating workers constructing the 18th-century third Eddystone lighthouse designed by British civil engineer John Smeaton (1724-1792). Smeaton made his name with this design for the Eddystone lighthouse near Plymouth, UK. Its construction was completed in 1759. This diagram shows the six stages by which the lighthouse was constructed, with cranes and pulleys attached to each stage used to lift construction materials to the new height reached. The final stage housed the lighthouse's lamp. This lighthouse was in use until 1877, when it was dismantled.