Grand Bridge, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
Date
mid 18th century
After
John Vanbrugh (1664 - 1726, British) , Architect
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Technique
Subject
Description
Sectional elevation of the Grand Bridge at Blenheim Palace, showing its main body, semi-circular archways, and the steps on either side. This Bridge and the Palace were designed by John Vanbrugh in c.1706-1716.
Inscribed: ‘Pons Blenhimensis
[…] A view of the Bridge of Blenheim
AA. The great Arch Opens Feet. 100.
BB. The hollow of the Bridge wth Grotts & c.
C. The Length of the Bridge.
D. The Breadth of the Same.
E. The Breadth over the great Arch.
F. It’s hight from the water to the Top.’
Inscription is also given in Latin, French and Italian.
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 4. Containing Designs for Bridges and Buildings. Collected and arranged by John Farey, 1821.
John Vanbrugh (1664-1726) was an English playwright and architect.
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.
Inscribed: ‘Pons Blenhimensis
[…] A view of the Bridge of Blenheim
AA. The great Arch Opens Feet. 100.
BB. The hollow of the Bridge wth Grotts & c.
C. The Length of the Bridge.
D. The Breadth of the Same.
E. The Breadth over the great Arch.
F. It’s hight from the water to the Top.’
Inscription is also given in Latin, French and Italian.
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 4. Containing Designs for Bridges and Buildings. Collected and arranged by John Farey, 1821.
John Vanbrugh (1664-1726) was an English playwright and architect.
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