Document 66, p 4
| 134 (4) | ||||
| Sir Walter Blackett being unwilling to reingage in the | ||||
| Reerection of this Bridge, and the Utility being fully proved in the | ||||
| time of its duration, though short; the Magistrates themselves were | ||||
| then induced to commence Undertakers in this Business; and for | ||||
| this purpose: ( |
||||
| Engineer Mr John Wooler, who in Confidence of Borings made by | ||||
| a Surveyor, whom the Magistrates had employed for that purpose, | ||||
| formed a Design for building a Bridge about 50 Yards below | ||||
| the former Scite: And accordingly the North Land-[breast?], or Abutment | ||||
| thereof was completed in or about the Year 1774; after which, that | ||||
| the Work might be the more ably carried into Execution, Mr | ||||
| Jonathan Pickernell, an experienced Workman, or Foreman was | ||||
| engaged and brought down from London by Mr Wooler to act | ||||
| under him; and as such was engaged by the Magistrates; who on | ||||
| digging out the Foundation for the first Pier in or about the Year | ||||
| 1775, at the depth of four feet below the Bed of the River, instead of | ||||
| meeting with a Bed of Clay, as reported by the Person employed to | ||||
| bore as aforesaid, found a Quicksand of so bad a Nature*, that being | ||||
| viewed by Mr Wooler, and tried in the presence of some of the Magis- | ||||
| trates, he, Mr Wooler declined the further Execution of the Undertaking | ||||
| on the Consideration of its being impracticable, except at such Expenses | ||||
| as were likely to be far beyond the Ability of the County Funds. | ||||
| The Magistrates however did not ever yet give up the pursuit | ||||
| of a Bridge, and not only Advertisements were continued in the public | ||||
| 4 weekly | ||||
Note: Mr Smeaton's Replies to Interrogatories p 4
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Transcribed by CTW and RMS