Giles Milton: A Tale of Two Towers: The Fabulous Folly of Edward Watkin

Published February 15, 2012 |

Author Ges Milton writes about Edward Watkin, an Englishman who wanted to outdo Gustav Eiffel and his tower on his blog Surviving History. It’s a crazy story. I had never heard of the Watkin’s Tower before.

It was the crowning achievement of his career. And it was the beginning of a feud.

At the 1889 inauguration of his famous Paris tower, Gustav Eiffel was feted as a French national hero.

But among the few who did not appreciate his iron skyscraper was a patriotic Englishman named Edward Watkin.