Previously Posted: Out-Eiffeling the Eiffel Tower

For those new to CabbieBlog or readers who are slightly forgetful, on Saturdays I’m republishing posts, many going back over a decade. Some will still be very relevant while others have become dated over time. Just think of this post as your weekend paper supplement. Out-Eiffeling the Eiffel Tower (24.09.13) Riling the French has been a national sport since before Waterloo, but no one has taken it to the lengths that Sir Edward Watkin did 150 years ago in Wembley. In 1869 he proposed constructing a tunnel under the English Channel and had actually started digging when it was pointed out that he lacked the necessary planning permission both in Kent and in France. Undeterred he planned to beat the Frenchies by building an Eiffel Tower – only taller. He established the Metropolitan Tower Construction Company and attracted many anti-Franco loyal subscribers. He contacted M. Eiffel to design the tower but with the stipulation of making it 150 ft higher than the original, although…