Transcript – Unlocking the Archives

Document 66 p20

150 At that time this Deponent was wholly unacquainted with the
Velocity of the Current of this River in great and violent Floods there
being at that time no Means of knowing it: Had he then known
that it was capable of acquiring a Velocity of 1000 Feet P Min in
passing a this Bridge, nay had he known then what afterwards turned
out after the last Bridge was founded, and raised above Water
in the Year 1779, that it was capable of a Velocity of 900 feet
P Minute, he could not have expected that the rough rubble Quarry
Stones, that he originally proposed to lay, and afterwards actually
laid for the defence of the foundation of the Piers, would have kept
their place: And therefore he could not have advised the Complainant
to have attempted the building of a Bridge either at that place, or
any other near Hexham.
The Experience of the Flood in 1779 shewed however that the
notwithstanding the Water’s velocity of 900 feet p Min
rubble stones did actually lay without derangement ⁁; Yet this he
imputed to the Excellence of the particular Material used: the Quarry
from whence these Stones were raised being not only of the best Quality
for the purpose this Deponent has seen, but situated very near the
Scite of the Bridge, and which Circumstance of Proximity was a
very great Inducement to this Deponent to attempt building a
Bridge in the place where he did: But the Experience of the Flood
of 1782 has shewn, that these defences of rubble Stones that resisted
the Action of the Flood of 1779, and every one subsequent without
the least derangement, Yet an Increase of the Velocity of the Water
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Note: Mr Smeaton's Replies to Interrogatories p20

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Transcribed by CTW and RMS