Earlier this year, we were contacted by Jennifer Kloester with a special request.
In her own words, Jennifer explains more…
It doesn’t often happen that one’s childhood dreams come true, but mine did on Tuesday 26 June 2024 when the wonderful people at the Cattewater Harbour Commissioners took me and my friend, Ann-Marie, out to the Plymouth Breakwater and Lighthouse.
I grew up in Melbourne, Australia, with a model of the lighthouse sitting by the fireplace in my mother’s sitting room and it has always intrigued me. Perfectly built from smooth gray stone, it stands about eighteen inches high and has an intriguing flight of steep stone steps running up to its door with tiny glass windows above leading to the top where a cut glass ball (possibly the stopper of a sherry decanter!) sits in place of a light.
As children we were often told about our five-times great-grandfather, William Stuart, and how he had been the superintending engineer for the Plymouth Breakwater and lighthouse and how the model of the lighthouse had come to my mother from her grandmother, Susan Stuart Hopkins, for she was William Stuarts’ great-granddaughter. We also have the beautiful medallion struck in 1848 which commemorates, on one side, the building of the Breakwater (1811-1848) and on the other side the completion of the lighthouse (1842-1844).
These have always been wonderful things in my life but nothing – nothing – prepared me for the reality!
I was in England for work with just a few days to spare and hoped it might be possible to visit the breakwater and to see the lighthouse that I had only ever known as a model.
A search for Plymouth Harbour led me to the deliciously named Cattewater Harbour Commissioners and an email soon brought a very kind reply. Yes, it was possible to go out to the breakwater but to actually walk on it and to visit the lighthouse would need permission from the Ministry of Defence. To my delight this was granted and so Ann-Marie and I drove down to Plymouth where we received a wonderfully warm and enthusiastic welcome from the amazing team responsible for Plymouth Harbour: Richard, Evie, Emma, Shaun, Mark and Cameron are all passionate about Plymouth, its harbour and its history and they made our day!
And what a day – sunny and warm, with calm seas and a perfect view of the breakwater as we zipped over the gentle waves. There aren’t really words to describe my feelings as the lighthouse – once no more than a beloved childhood toy – gradually came into view. Small at first – just like the one at home – it grew gradually bigger until this magnificent building on the end of the breakwater rose high above us, an exact replica of its tiny offspring!
As for the breakwater, it is an awe-inspiring feat of engineering. Over a mile long, it took nearly forty years to build, used over three-and-a-half million tons of stone, and cost £1,500,000 (about £100,000,000 today). What an extraordinary experience to walk where my ancestor had walked, to imagine the work involved in building such a huge edifice, and by hand, without the benefit of electricity or modern tools! Human ingenuity, expertise, determination, and William Stuart led the way.
That day, I felt a wonderful sense of connection to my five-times great-grandfather and a tremendous pride in what he and his team of workers had achieved. I am so grateful to all those who made this unforgettable day possible and for all that they do to care for Plymouth Harbour.
Thank you
Jennifer Kloester
