As part of the construction process, Smeaton pioneered 'hydraulic lime', a concrete that cured under water, and developed a technique of securing the blocks using dovetail joints and marble dowels. Work continued over the course of the following two years, and the light was first lit on 16 October 1759.

What was Eddystone lighthouse made of?

Eddystone Lighthouse, lighthouse, celebrated in folk ballads and seamen's lore, standing on the Eddystone Rocks, 14 miles off Plymouth, England, in the English Channel. The first lighthouse (1696–99), built of timber, was swept away with its designer, Henry Winstanley, by the great storm of 1703.

Who constructed the first Eddystone lighthouse?

In the 1870s, the foundation eroded beyond repair and the structure became unsafe. The lighthouse that stands today was constructed in 1882 by Sir James Douglass, using the successful concepts of Smeaton's design.