Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.5036
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South Esk bridge
Date
1787
Creator
John Smeaton (1724 - 1792, British) , Civil engineer
Object type
Image reference
Material
Dimensions
height (drawing): 340mm
width (drawing): 530mm
width (drawing): 530mm
Subject
Description
Design for one of the nine bays for the timber section of a proposed bridge for crossing the South Esk river at Montrose, Angus. Front elevation and section, 1:48 scale. From Smeaton volume 4, fol. 78v.
Object history
The Royal Society John Smeaton collection consists of 6 volumes of his working drawings.
The drawings (with supplementary manuscripts and engravings) were classified by mechanical engineer, John Farey (1791-1851) under the following 6 headings: I. Windmills and watermills for grinding corn; II. Mills for various purposes and machines for raising water; III. Fire engines for raising water; IV. Bridges and Buildings; V. Canal works, sluices, and harbours; VI. Canals and river navigations.
Smeaton made all his drawings himself. Later in his career he employed a draughtsman, but still continued to draw the lines of all his drawings to the proper scale in pencil on cartridge paper which he called sketches. Fair copies of the sketches were then made on drawing paper by the draughtsman, William Jessop or his successor Henry Eastburn, and Smeaton's daughters frequently helped in the shadowing and finishing using ink wash.
The drawings (with supplementary manuscripts and engravings) were classified by mechanical engineer, John Farey (1791-1851) under the following 6 headings: I. Windmills and watermills for grinding corn; II. Mills for various purposes and machines for raising water; III. Fire engines for raising water; IV. Bridges and Buildings; V. Canal works, sluices, and harbours; VI. Canals and river navigations.
Smeaton made all his drawings himself. Later in his career he employed a draughtsman, but still continued to draw the lines of all his drawings to the proper scale in pencil on cartridge paper which he called sketches. Fair copies of the sketches were then made on drawing paper by the draughtsman, William Jessop or his successor Henry Eastburn, and Smeaton's daughters frequently helped in the shadowing and finishing using ink wash.
Associated place