Watermill, Deptford, London
Date
1781
Creator
John Smeaton (1724 - 1792, British) , Civil engineer
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (drawing): 532mm
width (drawing): 358mm
width (drawing): 358mm
Subject
Description
Plan and elevation of the water raising engine and waterwheel, and elevation of the front of the building for the mill at Deptford, London, at a scale of 1:72.
Signed and dated lower right and inscribed ‘General Design for the WATER MILL for his Majesty’s Works at the Red House shewing the manner of adapting it to the Fire Engine.’ Further inscription by John Farey ‘(See Reports printed II 378) The engine to be constructed by Messrs Boulton and Watt, and of sufficient power to raise 460 cube feet of water per minute to the height of 34 feet. Note the construction of engines they were at that time making is engraved in Walkers’ Lectures.’
Original drawing from Designs by the late John Smeaton made on various occasions in the course of his employment as a Civil Engineer from the year 175[?] to 179[?], Volume 1. Containing Designs for Wind Mills and Water Mills for Grinding Corn. Collected and arranged by John Farey, 1821.
John Smeaton (1724-1792) was a British civil engineer, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1753.
John Farey (1766-1826) was a British geologist and surveyor, he worked on the published reports of John Smeaton’s work between 1809 and 1812.
Signed and dated lower right and inscribed ‘General Design for the WATER MILL for his Majesty’s Works at the Red House shewing the manner of adapting it to the Fire Engine.’ Further inscription by John Farey ‘(See Reports printed II 378) The engine to be constructed by Messrs Boulton and Watt, and of sufficient power to raise 460 cube feet of water per minute to the height of 34 feet. Note the construction of engines they were at that time making is engraved in Walkers’ Lectures.’
Original drawing from Designs by the late John Smeaton made on various occasions in the course of his employment as a Civil Engineer from the year 175[?] to 179[?], Volume 1. Containing Designs for Wind Mills and Water Mills for Grinding Corn. Collected and arranged by John Farey, 1821.
John Smeaton (1724-1792) was a British civil engineer, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1753.
John Farey (1766-1826) was a British geologist and surveyor, he worked on the published reports of John Smeaton’s work between 1809 and 1812.
Object history
Smeaton’s Designs were received by bequest of Mr Edward Farey in November 1913 as indicated in the copies of outgoing correspondence bound in the New Letter Books of the Royal Society, NLB/49/185 and NLB/49/312.
The collection was originally purchased after Smeaton’s death in 1795 by Sir Joseph Banks, President of the Royal Society and member of the Committee of the Smeaton Society of Civil Engineers. The committee undertook to publish a comprehensive selection of reports on the drawings which was entrusted to John Farey sr (1766-1826) and assisted by his better-known son John Farey jr (1791-1851) mechanical engineer and Fellow of the Royal Society. The work began in 1809 and resulted in three published volumes, Reports of the late John Smeaton FRS, made on various occasions of his employment as a civil engineer, London, 1812.
The collection was originally purchased after Smeaton’s death in 1795 by Sir Joseph Banks, President of the Royal Society and member of the Committee of the Smeaton Society of Civil Engineers. The committee undertook to publish a comprehensive selection of reports on the drawings which was entrusted to John Farey sr (1766-1826) and assisted by his better-known son John Farey jr (1791-1851) mechanical engineer and Fellow of the Royal Society. The work began in 1809 and resulted in three published volumes, Reports of the late John Smeaton FRS, made on various occasions of his employment as a civil engineer, London, 1812.
Associated place