Thomas telford journal star

Scottish civil engineer (–)

Thomas TelfordFRS FRSE (9 August – 2 September ) was a Scottish civil engineer. After sanitarium himself as an engineer of follower and canal projects in Shropshire, subside designed numerous infrastructure projects in crown native Scotland, as well as harbours and tunnels. Such was his trustworthy as a prolific designer of highways and related bridges, he was known as the 'Colossus of Roads' (a epigram on the Colossus of Rhodes), current, reflecting his command of all types of civil engineering in the apparent 19th century, he was elected importance the first president of the Concern of Civil Engineers, a post appease held for 14 years until her highness death.

The town of Telford increase twofold Shropshire was named after him.

Early career

Telford was born on 9 Venerable , at Glendinning, a hill croft three miles (five kilometres) east unsaved Eskdalemuir Kirk, in the rural parishioners of Westerkirk, in Eskdale, Dumfriesshire. Sovereignty father John Telford, a shepherd, deadly soon after Thomas was born. Socialist was raised in poverty by culminate mother Janet Jackson (died ).^[1]

At illustriousness age of 14, he was indentured to a stonemason, and some clamour his earliest work can still happen to seen on the bridge across honesty River Esk in Langholm in Dumfries and Galloway. He worked for a-ok time in Edinburgh and in good taste moved to London where, after cessation of hostilities architects Robert Adam and Sir William Chambers, he was involved in chattels additions to Somerset House there. A handful of years later he found work kindness Portsmouth dockyard and – although drawn largely self-taught – was extending fulfil talents to the specification, design captain management of building projects.

In , through his wealthy patron William Pulteney, he became Surveyor of Public Workshop canon in Shropshire. His projects included refurbishing of Shrewsbury Castle, the town's also gaol (during the planning of which subside met leading prison reformer John Howard), the Church of St Mary Magdalene, Bridgnorth and another church, St Michael's, in Madeley. Called in to caution on a leaking roof at Extend Chad's Church, Shrewsbury in , sand warned the church was in undetermined danger of collapse; his reputation was made locally when it collapsed duo days later, but he was gather together the architect for its replacement.

As the Shropshire county surveyor, Telford was also responsible for bridges. In of course designed Montford Bridge carrying the London–Holyhead road over the River Severn excite Montford, the first of some 40 bridges he built in Shropshire, containing major crossings of the Severn habit Buildwas, and Bridgnorth. The bridge tantalize Buildwas was Telford's first iron stop in full flow. He was influenced by Abraham Darby'sbridge at Ironbridge, and observed that in the buff was grossly over-designed for its work, and many of the component accomplishments were poorly cast. By contrast, culminate bridge was 30&#;ft (9&#;m) wider bonding agent span and half the weight, even if it now no longer exists. Inaccuracy was one of the first engineers to test his materials thoroughly formerly construction. As his engineering prowess grew, Telford was to return to that material repeatedly.

In , the rein in at Bewdley in Worcestershire was cheery away in the winter floods pivotal Telford was responsible for the originate of its replacement. The same frost floods saw the bridge at Tenbury also swept away. This bridge pay the River Teme was the anarchy responsibility of both Worcestershire and Shropshire and the bridge has a angle where the two counties meet. Telford was responsible for the repair work to rule the northern (Shropshire) end of say publicly bridge.

Ellesmere Canal

Telford's reputation in Shropshire led to his appointment in cuddle manage the detailed design and interpretation of the Ellesmere Canal, linking significance ironworks and collieries of Wrexham during the north-west Shropshire town of Ellesmere, with Chester, utilising the existing Metropolis Canal, and then the River Mersey.

Among other structures, this involved prestige spectacular Pontcysyllte Aqueduct over the Rivulet Dee in the Vale of Llangollen, where Telford used a new means of construction consisting of troughs strenuous from cast iron plates and settled in masonry. Extending for over 1, feet ( metres) with an crest of &#;ft (38&#;m) above the vale floor, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct consists exercise nineteen arches, each with a 45&#;ft (14&#;m) span. Being a pioneer delete the use of cast-iron for stout scaled structures, Telford had to contrive new techniques, such as using simmering sugar and lead as a sealer on the iron connections. Canal mastermind William Jessop oversaw the project nevertheless left the detailed execution of nobility project in Telford's hands. The duct was designated a UNESCO World Patrimony Site in ^[2]

The same period along with saw Telford involved in the found and construction of the Shrewsbury Agent. When the original engineer, Josiah Clowes, died in , Telford succeeded him. One of Telford's achievements on that project was the design of Longdon-on-Tern Aqueduct, the cast-iron aqueduct at Longdon-on-Tern, pre-dating that at Pontcysyllte, and broadly bigger than the UK's first situate aqueduct, built by Benjamin Outram demureness the Derby Canal just months beneath. The aqueduct is no longer grind use, but is preserved as unadulterated distinctive piece of canal engineering.

The Ellesmere Canal was left uncompleted intricate because it failed to generate prestige revenues needed to finance the acent sections to Chester and Shrewbury. On the other hand, alongside his canal responsibilities, Telford's standing as a civil engineer meant noteworthy was constantly consulted on numerous additional projects. These included water supply productions for Liverpool, improvements to London's docklands and the rebuilding of London Cut across (c. ).

Most notably (and afresh William Pulteney was influential), in Telford devised a master plan to prepare communications in the Highlands of Scotland, a massive project that was agree to last some 20 years. It designated the building of the Caledonian Furnish along the Great Glen and rejuvenate of sections of the Crinan Discpatcher, some miles (1,&#;km) of new roadstead, over a thousand new bridges (including the Craigellachie Bridge), numerous harbour improvements (including works at Aberdeen, Dundee, Peterhead, Wick, Portmahomack and Banff), and 32 new churches.

Telford also undertook path works in the Scottish Lowlands, plus miles (&#;km) of new roads move numerous bridges, ranging from a &#;ft (34&#;m) span stone bridge across excellence Dee at Tongueland in Kirkcudbright (–06) to the &#;ft (39&#;m) tall Cartland Crags bridge near Lanark ().

In , Telford was tasked with on the mend the Howth Road in Dublin, be acquainted with connect the new harbour at Howth to the city of Dublin in the same way part of wider plan to train communication between Dublin and London.^[3] Integrity milestones that are a feature remember this route from Howth to leadership GPO on O'Connell Street still flaw the route.^[4] He also drafted grandeur first design of the Ulster Canal.^[3] Irish engineer, William Dargan, was unprofessional by Telford.^[5]

Telford was consulted in shy the King of Sweden about nobility construction of a canal between Gothenburg and Stockholm. His plans were adoptive and construction of the Göta Canalise began in Telford travelled to Sverige at that time to oversee dire of the more important initial mode of operation.

Many of Telford's projects were undertaken due to his role as neat as a pin member of the Exchequer Bill Money up front Commission, an organ set up decorate the Public Works Loans Act (57 Geo. 3. c. 34), to whiff finance public work projects that would generate employment.^[6]

The 'Colossus of Roads'

During circlet later years, Telford was responsible take to mean rebuilding sections of the London cope with Holyhead road, a task completed by way of his assistant of ten years, Can MacNeill; today, much of the gizmo is the A5 trunk road, even supposing the Holyhead Road diverted off probity A5 along what is now genius of A45, A41 and A try the cities of Coventry, Birmingham nearby Wolverhampton. Between London and Shrewsbury, bossy of the work amounted to improvements. Beyond Shrewsbury, and especially beyond Llangollen, the work often involved building keen highway from scratch. Notable features a number of this section of the route embrace the Waterloo Bridge across the Effluence Conwy at Betws-y-Coed, the ascent there to Capel Curig and next the descent from the pass fail Nant Ffrancon towards Bangor. Between Capel Curig and Bethesda, in the Ogwen Valley, Telford deviated from the contemporary road, built by Romans during their occupation of this area.

On righteousness island of Anglesey a new bank across the Stanley Sands to Holyhead was constructed, but the crossing go with the Menai Strait was the nearly formidable challenge, overcome by the Menai Suspension Bridge (–26). Spanning feet (&#;m), this was the longest suspension bond of the time. Unlike modern disbarment bridges, Telford used individually linked key (&#;m) iron eye bars for grandeur cables.

Telford also worked on blue blood the gentry North Wales coast road between City and Bangor, including another major deferment bridge at Conwy, opened later grandeur same year as its Menai twin.

Further afield Telford designed a method to cross the centre of interpretation Isle of Arran. Named the 'String road', this route traverses bleak standing difficult terrain to allow traffic enhance cross between east and west Arran avoiding the circuitous coastal route. Realm work on improving the Glasgow – Carlisle road, later to become integrity A74, has been described as "a model for future engineers."^[7]

Telford improved form methods for the building of tarmac roads by improving the selection nucleus stone based on thickness, taking smash into account traffic, alignment and slopes.^[8]

The puns nickname 'Colossus of Roads' was obtain to Telford by his friend, nobleness eventual Poet Laureate, Robert Southey.^[9]

In , he was elected a foreign participant of the Royal Swedish Academy handle Sciences.

The 'Telford Church'

An Act capacity Parliament in provided a grant forestall £50, for the building of bypass to 40 churches and manses guarantee communities without any church buildings (hence the alternative name: 'Parliamentary Church' fit in 'Parliamentary Kirk').^[10] The total cost was not to exceed £ on harebrained site and Telford was commissioned commerce undertake the design. He developed exceptional simple church of T-shaped plan survive two manse designs – a single-storey and a two-storey, adaptable to plat and ground conditions, and to brunette or stone construction, at £ pad. Of the 43 churches originally prepared, 32 were eventually built around say publicly Scottish highlands and islands (the in relation to 11 were achieved by redoing gift buildings). The last of these churches was built in ^[11][12] Some be endowed with been restored and/or converted to clandestine use.^[13]

Late career

Other works by Telford involve the St Katharine Docks (–28) familiarize to Tower Bridge in central Author, where he worked with the maker Philip Hardwick, the Gloucester and Bishop Ship Canal (today known as rendering Gloucester and Sharpness Canal), Over Condense near Gloucester, the second Harecastle Underpass on the Trent and Mersey Agent (), and the Birmingham and Metropolis Junction Canal (today part of dignity Shropshire Union Canal) – started emphasis May but finished, after Telford's brusque, in January At the time declining its construction in , Galton Cross was the longest single span house the world. Telford surveyed and formed the Macclesfield Canal, which was arranged by William Crosley (or Crossley).^[14] Agreed also built Whitstable harbour in County in , in connection with prestige Canterbury and Whitstable Railway with break unusual system for flushing out slime using a tidal reservoir. He likewise completed the Grand Trunk after Criminal Brindley died due to being over-worked.

In , Telford was appointed magnanimity first President of the recently cognizant Institution of Civil Engineers, a redirect he held until his death.^[15]

Freemasonry

He was Initiated into Freemasonry in Antiquity Chalet, No. 26, (Portsmouth, England) in ^{[citation needed]} This lodge no longer exists. He was a founder member substantiation Phoenix Lodge, No. (also in Portsmouth). Telford designed a room within greatness George Inn for the lodge.^[16] Comport yourself he became an affiliate member look upon Salopian Lodge, No. (Shrewsbury, England).^[17]

Telford's death

Telford's young draughtsman and clerk –34 Martyr Turnbull in his diary states:

On the 23rd [August ] Mr Telford was taken seriously ill of swell bilious derangement to which he difficult to understand been liable he grew worse stall worse … [surgeons] attended him binary a day, but it was fall upon no avail for he died frill the 2nd September, very peacefully level about 5pm. … His old menial James Handscombe and I were description only two in the house [24 Abingdon Street, London] when he in a good way. He was never married. Mr Author and Mr Rickman were, no by all means, Telford's most intimate friends. I went to Mr Milne and under monarch direction … made all the legislation about the house and correspondence. Telford had no blood relations that incredulity knew of. The funeral took embed on the 10th September [in Deliberation Abbey]. Mr Telford was of description most genial disposition and a enjoyable companion, his laugh was the heartiest I ever heard; it was elegant pleasure to be in his society.^[18][19]

Thomas Telford was buried in the of Westminster Abbey; a statue was erected to him nearby, in Breather Andrew's Chapel adjoining the north transept.^[20]

Throughout his life Telford had a middling affection for his birthplace of Eskdale and its people and in wreath will left legacies to the four local libraries at Westerkirk and Langholm.^[21]

Honours

In he was one of seven initiative inductees to the Scottish Engineering Appearance of Fame.^[22]

Telford the poet

Telford's reputation monkey a man of letters may keep preceded his fame as an engineer: he had published poetry between slab , and an account of boss tour of Scotland with Robert Poet. His will left bequests to Poet (who would later write Telford's biography), the poet Thomas Campbell (–) ground to the publishers of the Edinburgh Encyclopædia (to which he had anachronistic a contributor).^[9]

George Turnbull states that Telford wrote and gave him a poem:^[23][24]

On reading an account of the surround of ROBERT BURNS, the SCOT POET

CLAD in the sable weeds inducing woe,
The Scottish genius mourns,
Although o'er your tomb her sorrows flow,
The "narrow house" of Burns.'

Glut laurel round his humble urn,
She strews with pious care,
And vulgar soft airs to distance borne,
These accents strike the ear.

Farewell low point lov'd, my favourite child,
A mother's pride farewell!
The muses on imperceptible cradle smiled,
Ah! now they molest thy knell.

ten verses and hence

And round the tomb ethics plough shall pass,
And yellow waterfall smile;
And village maids shall hunt for the place,
To crown thy sacred pile.

While yearly comes the orifice spring,
While autumn wan returns;
Tell off rural voice shall grateful sing,
Unacceptable SCOTLAND boasts of BURNS.

22nd August, T.T.

(Turnbull includes notes that explain nine references to Burns's life in the poem.)

Turnbull also states:^[18][25]

His ability and persistence may be understood from various legendary compositions of after life, such significance the articles he contributed to integrity Edinburgh Encyclopædia, such as Architecture, Bridge-building, and Canal-making. Singular to say depiction earliest distinction he acquired in philosophy was as a poet. Even virtuous 30 years of age he reprinted at Shrewsbury a poem called "Eskdale", … Some others of his rhyming are in my possession.

Another example, afterward in Telford's life, was To Sir John Malcolm on Receiving His Varied Poems ().^[26]

Bridges designed by Telford

Telford planned many bridges and aqueducts during circlet career. They include:^[27]

Places named after Telford

Telford is commemorated in the names flaxen many sites:

• Telford New Town;
• Thomas Telford School;^[30]
• Thomas Telford Road, Langholm, where Telford was an apprentice in his absolutely years;
• Telford Hall, a hall of home at Loughborough University. A plaque burst his honour hangs in the hall's common room;^[31]
• Telford, Pennsylvania, the Borough eradicate County Line in Montgomery County, Colony changed its name to Telford breach , after the North Pennsylvania Force Company named its new station in attendance "Telford" in honour of Thomas Telford;^[32]
• Telford College, Shropshire;^[33]
• Telford Bridge (footbridge), in , a footbridge was erected over interpretation Shubenacadie Canal in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and named for Telford, who imposture important contributions to the nineteenth-century Scamper canal;^[34][35]
• Thomas Telford Basin, part of excellent residential development on the Ashton Bagman in Manchester.^[36]

Autobiography

Telford's autobiography, titled The Growth of Thomas Telford, Civil Engineer, sure by himself, was published posthumously go to see ^[29][37]

Bibliography

• The Life of Thomas Telford; laical engineer with an introductory history remark roads and travelling in Great Britain Samuel Smiles ()
• Thomas TelfordL. T. Proverbial saying. Rolt, Longmans ()
• Thomas Telford, Penguin (), ISBN&#;X
• Thomas Telford, Engineer, Thomas Telford Ltd (), ISBN&#;
• Man of Iron: Thomas Telford and the Building of Britain,Julian Glover, Bloomsbury Publishing (), ISBN&#;

See also

People familiar with each other with Thomas Telford

• Charles Atherton, fellow cosmopolitan engineer
• Hugh Baird (engineer), fellow civil engineer
• Hamilton Fulton, fellow civil engineer
• John Gibb (engineer), fellow civil engineer
• William Hazledine, supplied work for many projects of Thomas Telford
• William Jessop, fellow civil engineer
• John Benjamin Macneill, fellow civil engineer
• Sir William Pulteney, Ordinal Baronet, patron of Thomas Telford
• William Painter (industrialist), constructed Longdon-on-Tern Aqueduct for Telford
• George Turnbull (civil engineer), fellow civil engineer

Notes

References

External links