Pile driver, Westminster, London
Date
1738
Creator
Hubert Francois Gravelot (1699 - 1773, French) , Illustrator
William Henry Toms (1690 - 1756, British) , Engraver
William Henry Toms (1690 - 1756, British) , Engraver
After
John Smeaton (1724 - 1792, British) , Civil engineer
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (page): 445mm
width (page): 350mm
width (page): 350mm
Subject
Description
Perspective view of a horse-operated engine pile driver; a device used to drive piles into soil to provide foundation support for buildings and other structures. Details of the driver’s great wheel, drum and shaft are visible underneath an in-depth explanation of the device [right as viewed].
This particular driver was invented by watch-maker and engineer James Vauloue and used to drive the piles of the first Westminster Bridge in London. The River Thames is visible below the jetty on which the device is mounted.
Inscribed on the jetty ‘W. H. Toms sculp.t’
Inscribed on the main frame ‘H. Gravelot delin’
Inscribed underneath ‘A Perspective View of the Engine now made use of for Drawing the Piles of the New Bridge at Westminster: most Humbly inscrib’d to the Hon: the Commissioners for Building the said Bridge, by the inventor – James Vauloue, watch-maker.’
Engraving 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 4. Containing Designs for Bridges and Buildings. 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.
This particular driver was invented by watch-maker and engineer James Vauloue and used to drive the piles of the first Westminster Bridge in London. The River Thames is visible below the jetty on which the device is mounted.
Inscribed on the jetty ‘W. H. Toms sculp.t’
Inscribed on the main frame ‘H. Gravelot delin’
Inscribed underneath ‘A Perspective View of the Engine now made use of for Drawing the Piles of the New Bridge at Westminster: most Humbly inscrib’d to the Hon: the Commissioners for Building the said Bridge, by the inventor – James Vauloue, watch-maker.’
Engraving 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 4. Containing Designs for Bridges and Buildings. 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