38 6

HISTORY OF ENGINEERING.

Book I

Christchurch quay lies 2 miles up the river from the harbour’s mouth, about a furlongfrom which, in the reign of Charles II. , was carried out a pier or jetty in a straight line,

Fig. 393.

formed of round lumps of iron-stone, its direction being south-east, and its extent, beyondhigh water mark, 770 feet; its top gradually declines from the shore towards the sea, thewhole being uncovered at low water, but at high water the greatest part is covered.

This pier was intended to secure a better passage to the harbour, and was made by cuttingthrough the hommacks, to let the water out, and to direct its course to the south-west sideof the pier.

Smeaton , in the year 1764, reported upon the condition of the harbour, and designed andestimated for an additional pier.

Southampton has of late years risen into considerable importance, from its regular com-munications with the coasts of France, Spain, and Portugal ; it ranks among those townswhich have a Roman origin, and was of great extent when the Saxon kings resided atWinchester ; the walls and gates which remain are probably some of the constructions ofthat time. In Domesday Book , Southampton or Huntunc is styled a burgh.

The Test, Anton, and Ilchin, here unite and form the Southwater, in which vessels of1500 tons may sail.

Spacious and commodious docks have been formed since the railway has been completed,which opens a direct communication with the metropolis.

Portsmouth and Gosport had their origin, it is supposed, by the retiring of the sea ;according to Camden, Portchester on this account was deserted for the Isle of Portsea;Edward IV. improved its fortifications, and increased the size of its port, and Iceland notices having seen “ in a great dok for shippes, in which lyeth part of the rybbes of theHenry Grace de Dieu, one of the biggest shippes that hath been made in hominum memoria .”

The dock-yard and gun-wharf on the side of Portsea are very extensive, and contain allthat a navy can require ; storehouses, residences for the officers, anchor manufactories, docks,basins, jetty heads, rigging houses, &c. &c., where first-rate ships of war are constructed andrefitted with an extraordinary expedition. In time of war upwards of 5000 artificers wereemployed here, and the activity of the whole establishment had nowhere its parallel.

Barracks, magazines, forts, mills, victualling yards, and other extensive establishments,surround this important depot.

Government has been furnished with a most complete survey of this harbour and itsvarious lakes by naval officers, and it appears that the soundings entirely over are nearlythe same as they were sixty years ago. The bar, off the south sea landmarks, is also un-changed in its dimensions, and is composed of flint, chalk, and gravel; this concrete couldbe easily removed, and without very great expense.

Little Hampton is formed by the channel of the Arun, which flows into the sea betweentwo piers, composed of piles with an extension of Dicker work.

The depth of water in the entrance between the piers is 2 or 3 feet below the level ofhigh water, brrt a bar extends outside the Dicker work across the mouth, which rises about2 feet above the general surface, and is left dry at low water.

The lift of average spring tides is about 16 feet, and of neaps 11 feet.

The larger vessels which enter usually remain near the river’s mouth, but a vessel of13 feet draught, when she has passed the bar, can proceed to Arundel Bridge, a distance of6 miles, the bottom continuing of an uniform level throughout that extent.

The tide flows 25 miles up the river, but the backwater is of little use to cleanse themouth, from the narrowness of the channel and sluggishness of the stream.

Shoreham is at the mouth of the Adur, which formerly entered the sea nearly at right