Watkin's Tower - History

History

Inspired by the construction of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, Sir Edward Watkin (a British Member of Parliament and chairman of the Metropolitan Railway) proposed the construction of a taller tower in Wembley Park, London, that would be the centrepiece of a pleasure park just 12 minutes from Baker Street station. Watkin invited Gustave Eiffel himself to design the tower, but the Frenchman declined – replying that if he designed the tower, the French people "would not think me so good a Frenchman as I hope I am."

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