London and Its Environs Described, vol. 4 (of 6): Containing an Account of Whatever is Most Remarkable for Grandeur, Elegance, Curiosity or Use, in the City and in the Country Twenty Miles Round ItAnonymous
History
London and Its Environs Described, vol. 4 (of 6): Containing an Account of Whatever is Most Remarkable for Grandeur, Elegance, Curiosity or Use, in the City and in the Country Twenty Miles Round It
Anonymous
London (England) -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; London (England) -- Gazetteers -- Early works to 1800
Thus the street on the bridge had nothing to distinguish it from a
common handsome narrow street; but the high arches towards the middle,
and the three openings on each side, which afforded an agreeable view of
the river. But on the outside the view from the water, and from the
keys, was as disagreeable as possible. Nineteen unequilateral arches,
with sterlings increased to a monstrous size by frequent repairs,
supported the street above. These arches were of very different sizes,
and several that were low and narrow, were placed between others that
were broad and lofty. The back part of the houses next the Thames had
neither uniformity nor any degree of beauty; the line was broken by a
great number of closets projecting from the buildings, and by mean
necessary houses hanging over the sterlings. This deformity was
increased by the houses extending a considerable distance over the sides
of the bridge, and by some of them projecting farther over it than
others: by which means the tops of almost all the arches, except those
that were nearest, were concealed from the view of the passengers on the
keys, and gave the bridge the appearance of a multitude of rude piers,
with only an arch or two at the end, and the rest consisting of beams
extending from the tops of flat piers, without any other arches, quite
across the river.
But most of these deformities will be soon removed. Instead of a narrow
street of twenty feet wide, there will be a passage of thirty-one feet
broad for carriages; with a handsome raised pavement of stone on each
side, seven feet broad, for the use of foot passengers; and, instead of
houses projecting over the river, the sides will be secured and adorned
by an elegant balustrade. Like Westminster bridge, it will be handsomely
enlightened with lamps from sun-setting to sun-rising, and guarded in
the night by a number of watchmen; the expences of both which are to be
defrayed out of the bridge-house estate.
LONDON BRIDGE WATER WORKS. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth were erected
in the arches at the south end of this bridge, mills for grinding corn,
in order that the city might supply the poor with meal, at a reasonable
rate, in a time of scarcity, or when the price was unjustly raised by
avaricious badgers and mealmen. Afterwards, in the year 1582, Peter
Morice, a Dutchman, contrived a water engine to supply the citizens with
Thames water: this was, about fifty years ago, improved by Mr. Sorocold;
and, since that time, by that great master of hydraulics, Mr. Hadley,
who rendered it far superior to the so much famed water-engine at Marli
in France; which is so ill contrived in its cranks, that it is said to
cost 25,000l. sterling _per annum_ to keep it in repair.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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