Document 54, p 3
| 116b | ||||
| capable of withstanding such Floods | ||||
| another Bridge must be built ⁁ it must be upon a Plan very different | ||||
| from that to which Mr Errington was by the Articles confined to adhere | ||||
| whereon and made | ||||
| Mr Errington purchased Ground ⁁ to make ⁁ the Road from the North End of the | ||||
| Bridge to the Alemouth Road pursuant to the Articles, which Road is now used | ||||
| as a Common Highway from the said Alemouth Road to a Ferryboat for Carriages | ||||
| and Horses stationed close by the Site of the Bridge. And he paid for the purchase | ||||
| of the Ground and making the Road the Sum of £388. 18. 11 ½. besides the use of | ||||
| his own Horses and Carts which if hired woud have cost £19. 4.s- | ||||
| Mr Errington convinced of the Impracticability of rebuilding a permanent Bridge | ||||
| and being willing to pay what shoud | ||||
| if the Articles and Plan were adhered to ⁁ |
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| appear upon a fair Estimate wou’d be the Expence of putting the Bridge into the like | ||||
| or as good a state as if it was immediately before the Accident, employed Robert | ||||
| Thompson the then and present County Surveyor of Bridges, Wm Johnson a Mason | ||||
| eminently skilled in Bridge Building and well known to the Justices having | ||||
| been employed by them in building various Bridges in the County, and Thomas | ||||
| Rickley (since deceased) a Carpenter and master Builder of the first Reputation | ||||
| in the Neighbourhood to make such Estimate, who after having carefully viewed | ||||
| and examined the State of the Bridge did on the 16th July 1783 make their Report | ||||
| in Writing of which the following is a Copy | ||||
| or estimate ⁁ signed with their respective Hands ⁁ |
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| "Having carefully viewed and examined the present State of Hexham Bridge" | ||||
| "and made the most exact calculations we are capable of we are of" | ||||
| "Opinion the fallen and damaged parts may be reinstated and fully" | ||||
| "repaired according to Mr Smeaton’s plan and original Design for a Sum" | ||||
| "not exceeding two thousand five hundred and Eight pounds Witness our | ||||
| Hands this 16th day of July 1783 | ||||
| William Johnson Mason | ||||
| Witness Robert Thompson Mason & Bridge Surveyor | ||||
| Jno Donkin Thos Rickley Carpenter | ||||
| their Michaelmas Quarter Sessions 1783. and being asked by them if Mr Errington | ||||
| was willing to give the Sum mentioned in the Estimate they were answered in the | ||||
| Affirmative- |
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| that the persons who had made the Estimate were incompetent to the Undertaking | ||||
| and then the plf Gawen Aynsley who was the Chairman enquired if Mr Smeaton | ||||
| had viewed the Ruins of the Bridge, and being told he had not, Mr Donkin was | ||||
| ordered to withdraw and being called in again Mr Aynsley said it was the | ||||
| wish of himself and his Brethren of the Bench that Mr Errington wou’d get an | ||||
| Estimate made by Mr Smeaton of the Value of the then Standing parts of the Bridge | ||||
| and also of the fallen Materials and that such Estimate shou’d be delivered within | ||||
| Six weeks to some one of the Justices or to the Clerk of the peace and that Mr | ||||
| Errington shou’d also in writing under his hand specify what Sum he wou’d give | ||||
| to be released from his Contract-Mr Donkin immediately communicated by Letter what | ||||
| passed at the Sessions to Mr Errington who was then in Hampshire and who wrote | ||||
| to Mr Smeaton to desire he wou’d go to Northumberland and make the Estimate | ||||
| required, Mr Smeaton was then in an ill State of Health and promised that he | ||||
| wou’d as soon as he coud with Safety do so – apprehending that the time mentioned | ||||
| by Mr Aynsley might elapse before Mr Smeatons health wou’d permit him to take | ||||
| a Journey into Northumberland Mr Donkin wrote to the Clerk of the peace informing | ||||
| him of Mr Smeatons Indisposition |
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| as he was able – on the 3 or 4th of December 1783 Mr Smeaton came and after | ||||
| a most accurate and attentive Survey made as Estimate of which the following is a | ||||
| Copy | ||||
| 3 | ||||
Note: Draft Case to the Court of Chancery, p 3
Abbreviations are underlined like this Wm. and the expansion may be seen by moving the cursor over it.
| An entry outlined like this has a note which may be seen by hovering over it. |
Transcribed by CTW and TB