Chap. VIII.

BRITAIN.

441

Fig. 445.

SECTION THROUGH THE STAIRS OF WATERLOO BRIDGE.

Fig.446.

PLAN OF STAIRS.

The section through the stairs, arch above,and solid masonry resting on the piles below,give some idea of the precautions taken bytfie engineer to render his abutments per-fectly solid; beyond these, and continuingfor an immense distance on the Surrey side,is a series of brick arches, on which theroadway is carried, which gradually inclinestowards the obelisk in St. George’s Fields.

On the Strand side the ground rising rapidly,the same extent of arches was not required.

Waterloo Bridge is an imposing and beau-tiful structure, which has received most un-qualified praise from all capable of judgingof its merits: as the works were generallyconstructed in a similar manner to those ofLondon Bridge , it has not been thought ne-cessary to enter more upon them here, but to refer to that specification for further inform-ation upon the subject; the whole surface of the piers and abutments, as well as the arches,are of Cornish granite, and the filling in is of Cragleith and Derbyshire stone.

London Bridge , at the commencement of the nineteenth century, was in such a state ofdilapidation as to require either that a large sum of money should be expended upon it, orthat a new structure should be erected; an application was made to parliament on thesubject, when a select committee was appointed to consider what was necessary to be done.

On the 28th of July, 1800, this committee reported, that notwithstanding large sumshad annually been expended upon the bridge, the methods hitherto adopted for its secu-rity had not proved effectual; that the bed of the river suffered injury from increasingshoals, partly from its natural course being obstructed, and partly from the dispersion ofmaterials employed to strengthen the piers. That the bridge was in such a state that itcould not be substantially repaired; that its foundations were daily undermining, from theforce of the agitated water rushing through the confined arches; and the committee wasof opinion, from the enquiries they had instituted, that the rebuilding of London Bridge upon improved principles would be a measure of economy.