{"id":3002,"date":"2023-07-27T01:36:05","date_gmt":"2023-07-27T01:36:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/decline-and-fall-but\/"},"modified":"2023-07-27T01:36:05","modified_gmt":"2023-07-27T01:36:05","slug":"decline-and-fall-but","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/decline-and-fall-but\/","title":{"rendered":"Decline And Fall – BUT…"},"content":{"rendered":"
A Man. A Plan, A Canal – But NOT Panama!<\/span><\/p>\n\n He was a bit of a clever-clogs!<\/p>\n John Smeaton FRS (1724 to 1792) was a British civil engineer responsible for the design of bridges, canals, harbours and lighthouses. He was also a capable mechanical engineer and an eminent physicist. Smeaton was the first self-proclaimed “civil engineer”, and is often regarded as the “father of civil engineering”.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Smeaton was born in Austhorpe, Leeds, England. After studying at Leeds Grammar School he joined his father’s law firm, but left to become a mathematical instrument maker ), developing, among other instruments, a pyrometer to study material expansion. In 1750, his premises were in the Great Turnstile in Holborn,<\/span><\/p>\n It’s an alley that runs from Holborn (London) …<\/p>\n … through to Lincolns Inn Fields.<\/p>\n Here is a view from the other end …<\/p>\n In fbb’s aged mind, Smeaton is best remembered for his eponymous tower on the Hoe at Plymouth.<\/p>\n But Polymath Smeaton also designed the Forth and Clyde Canal. You may be surprised to hear that this waterway linked the River Forth with the River Clyde. It left the Clyde at Bowling (see yesterday’s blog) …<\/p>\n The main “raison d’etre” of the canal was trade. Horse drawn barges were an early means of transit …<\/p>\n Boats were built and launched at Kirkintilloch, about halfway along the canal.<\/p>\n The passage was used by the east coast fishing fleet chasing the shoals round to the west …<\/p>\n … as it was much safer than going a long way “round the top” and quicker, too than cutting a corner off via the Caledonian Canal between Inverness and Fort William. For a canny Scots skipper, it was significantly cheaper too!<\/p><\/div>\n Later, canal cruises were popular using three boats; May Queen …<\/p>\n … Gypsy Queen …<\/p>\n … and Fairy Queen.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div>\n <\/p><\/div>\n