1890 – Designs for Great London Tower, England

An ambitious project to create a 358-metre high visitor attraction in Wembley Park, led by the railway entrepreneur Sir Edward Watkin. Marketed as the “Great Tower of London”, it was designed to surpass the height of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. For example, the design by T.C Clarke illustrated, was to surpass 1300 feet in height. An architectural design competition was held in 1890, and a total of 68 designs were submitted. The winning entry, number 37, was submitted by Stewart, MacLaren and Dunn of London. They proposed an eight-legged 1,200-foot metal tower with two observation decks – each with restaurants, theatres, dancing rooms, with winter gardens, Turkish baths, and a 90-bedroom hotel at ground level. Known as Watkin’s Tower, and partially constructed but never completed, it was demolished in 1907. The site of the tower is now occupied by Wembley Stadium.