Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.8440
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Forth and Clyde Canal
Date
1768
Creator
John Smeaton (1724 - 1792, British) , Civil engineer
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (drawing): 250mm
width (drawing): 370mm
width (drawing): 370mm
Subject
Description
Design for a (swing) bridge for crossing the Forth and Clyde Canal. Elevation and plan, 1:48 scale. From Smeaton volume 5.
The Forth and Clyde Canal was Smeaton's largest project. The canal provided a route for sea-going vessels by linking the Firth of Forth in the east with the Firth of Clyde in the west.
The Forth and Clyde Canal was Smeaton's largest project. The canal provided a route for sea-going vessels by linking the Firth of Forth in the east with the Firth of Clyde in the west.
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