accordingly¡¡proceeded£»¡¡in¡¡1809£»¡¡to¡¡rebuild¡¡the¡¡pier¡head¡¡of¡¡cut
granite£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡they¡¡applied¡¡to¡¡Parliament¡¡for
authority¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡out¡¡further¡¡improvements¡¡after¡¡the¡¡plan
recommended¡¡by¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Telford£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡necessary¡¡powers¡¡were
conferred¡¡in¡¡the¡¡following¡¡year¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡new¡¡works¡¡comprehended¡¡a
large¡¡extension¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wharfage¡¡accommodation£»¡¡the¡¡construction¡¡of
floating¡¡and¡¡graving¡¡docks£»¡¡increased¡¡means¡¡of¡¡scouring¡¡the¡¡harbour
and¡¡ensuring¡¡greater¡¡depth¡¡of¡¡water¡¡on¡¡the¡¡bar¡¡across¡¡the¡¡river's
mouth£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡provision¡¡of¡¡a¡¡navigable¡¡communication¡¡between¡¡the
Aberdeenshire¡¡Canal¡¡and¡¡the¡¡new¡¡harbour¡£
£§Image£§¡¡Plan¡¡of¡¡Aberdeen¡¡Harbour
The¡¡extension¡¡of¡¡the¡¡north¡¡pier¡¡was¡¡first¡¡proceeded¡¡with£»¡¡under¡¡the
superintendence¡¡of¡¡John¡¡Gibb£»¡¡the¡¡resident¡¡engineer£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡the
year¡¡1811¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡length¡¡of¡¡300¡¡additional¡¡feet¡¡had¡¡been
completed¡£¡¡The¡¡beneficial¡¡effects¡¡of¡¡this¡¡extension¡¡were¡¡so
apparent£»¡¡that¡¡a¡¡general¡¡wish¡¡was¡¡expressed¡¡that¡¡it¡¡should¡¡be
carried¡¡further£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡eventually¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡extend¡¡the
pier¡¡780¡¡feet¡¡beyond¡¡Smeaton's¡¡head£»¡¡by¡¡which¡¡not¡¡only¡¡was¡¡much
deeper¡¡water¡¡secured£»¡¡but¡¡vessels¡¡were¡¡better¡¡enabled¡¡to¡¡clear¡¡the
Girdleness¡¡Point¡£¡¡This¡¡extension¡¡was¡¡successfully¡¡carried¡¡out¡¡by
the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡year¡¡1812¡£¡¡A¡¡strong¡¡breakwater£»¡¡about¡¡800¡¡feet¡¡long£»
was¡¡also¡¡run¡¡out¡¡from¡¡the¡¡south¡¡shore£»¡¡leaving¡¡a¡¡space¡¡of¡¡about¡¡250
feet¡¡as¡¡an¡¡entrance£»¡¡thereby¡¡giving¡¡greater¡¡protection¡¡to¡¡the
shipping¡¡in¡¡the¡¡harbour£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡contraction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡channel£»¡¡by
increasing¡¡the¡¡¡¨scour£»¡¨¡¡tended¡¡to¡¡give¡¡a¡¡much¡¡greater¡¡depth¡¡of
water¡¡on¡¡the¡¡bar¡£
£§Image£§¡¡Aberdeen¡¡Harbour¡£
The¡¡outer¡¡head¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pier¡¡was¡¡seriously¡¡injured¡¡by¡¡the¡¡heavy
storms¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡succeeding¡¡winters£»¡¡which¡¡rendered¡¡it¡¡necessary
to¡¡alter¡¡its¡¡formation¡¡to¡¡a¡¡very¡¡flat¡¡slope¡¡of¡¡about¡¡five¡¡to¡¡one
all¡¡round¡¡the¡¡head¡£*£§9£§
£§Image£§¡¡Section¡¡of¡¡pier¡head¡¡work¡£
New¡¡wharves¡¡were¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡constructed¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡harbour£»
a¡¡new¡¡channel¡¡for¡¡the¡¡river¡¡was¡¡excavated£»¡¡which¡¡further¡¡enlarged
the¡¡floating¡¡space¡¡and¡¡wharf¡¡accommodation£»¡¡wet¡¡and¡¡dry¡¡docks¡¡were
added£»¡¡until¡¡at¡¡length¡¡the¡¡quay¡¡berthage¡¡amounted¡¡to¡¡not¡¡less¡¡than
6290¡¡feet£»¡¡or¡¡nearly¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡and¡¡a¡¡quarter¡¡in¡¡length¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡these
combined¡¡improvements¡¡an¡¡additional¡¡extent¡¡of¡¡quay¡¡room¡¡was
obtained¡¡of¡¡about¡¡4000¡¡feet£»¡¡an¡¡excellent¡¡tidal¡¡harbour¡¡was¡¡formed£»
in¡¡which£»¡¡at¡¡spring¡¡tides£»¡¡the¡¡depth¡¡of¡¡water¡¡is¡¡about¡¡15¡¡feet£»
while¡¡on¡¡the¡¡bar¡¡it¡¡was¡¡increased¡¡to¡¡about¡¡19¡¡feet¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡prosperity
of¡¡Aberdeen¡¡had¡¡meanwhile¡¡been¡¡advancing¡¡apace¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡city¡¡had¡¡been
greatly¡¡beautified¡¡and¡¡enlarged£º¡¡shipbuilding¡¡had¡¡made¡¡rapid
progress£»¡¡Aberdeen¡¡clippers¡¡became¡¡famous£»¡¡and¡¡Aberdeen¡¡merchants
carried¡¡on¡¡a¡¡trade¡¡with¡¡all¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡manufactures¡¡of
wool£»¡¡cotton£»¡¡flax£»¡¡and¡¡iron¡¡were¡¡carried¡¡on¡¡with¡¡great¡¡success£»
its¡¡population¡¡rapidly¡¡increased£»¡¡and£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡maritime¡¡city£»¡¡Aberdeen
took¡¡rank¡¡as¡¡the¡¡third¡¡in¡¡Scotland£»¡¡the¡¡tonnage¡¡entering¡¡the¡¡port
having¡¡increased¡¡from¡¡50£»000¡¡tons¡¡in¡¡1800¡¡to¡¡about¡¡300£»000¡¡in
1860¡£
Improvements¡¡of¡¡an¡¡equally¡¡important¡¡character¡¡were¡¡carried¡¡out¡¡by
Mr¡£¡¡Telford¡¡in¡¡the¡¡port¡¡of¡¡Dundee£»¡¡also¡¡situated¡¡on¡¡the¡¡east¡¡coast
of¡¡Scotland£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡entrance¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Frith¡¡of¡¡Tay¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡are¡¡those
still¡¡living¡¡at¡¡the¡¡place¡¡who¡¡remember¡¡its¡¡former¡¡haven£»¡¡consisting
of¡¡a¡¡crooked¡¡wall£»¡¡affording¡¡shelter¡¡to¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡fishing¡boats¡¡or
smuggling¡¡vesselsits¡¡trade¡¡being¡¡then¡¡altogether¡¡paltry£»¡¡scarcely
deserving¡¡the¡¡name£»¡¡and¡¡its¡¡population¡¡not¡¡one¡¡fifth¡¡of¡¡what¡¡it¡¡now
is¡£¡¡¡¡Helped¡¡by¡¡its¡¡commodious¡¡and¡¡capacious¡¡harbour£»¡¡it¡¡has¡¡become
one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡populous¡¡and¡¡thriving¡¡towns¡¡on¡¡the¡¡east¡¡coast¡£
£§Image£§¡¡Plan¡¡of¡¡Dundee¡¡Harbour¡£
The¡¡trade¡¡of¡¡the¡¡place¡¡took¡¡a¡¡great¡¡start¡¡forward¡¡at¡¡the¡¡close¡¡of
the¡¡war£»¡¡and¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Telford¡¡was¡¡called¡¡upon¡¡to¡¡supply¡¡the¡¡plans¡¡of¡¡a
new¡¡harbour¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡first¡¡design£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡submitted¡¡in¡¡1814£»¡¡was¡¡of
a¡¡comparatively¡¡limited¡¡character£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡greatly¡¡enlarged
during¡¡the¡¡progress¡¡of¡¡the¡¡works¡£¡¡¡¡Floating¡¡docks¡¡were¡¡added£»¡¡as
well¡¡as¡¡graving¡¡docks¡¡for¡¡large¡¡vessels¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡necessary¡¡powers¡¡were
obtained¡¡in¡¡1815£»¡¡the¡¡works¡¡proceeded¡¡vigorously¡¡under¡¡the¡¡Harbour
Commissioners£»¡¡who¡¡superseded¡¡the¡¡old¡¡obstructive¡¡corporation£»¡¡and
in¡¡1825¡¡the¡¡splendid¡¡new¡¡floating¡¡dock750¡¡feet¡¡long¡¡by¡¡450¡¡broad£»
having¡¡an¡¡entrance¡lock¡¡170¡¡feet¡¡long¡¡and¡¡40¡¡feet¡¡widewas¡¡opened
to¡¡the¡¡shipping¡¡of¡¡all¡¡countries¡£
£§Image£§¡¡Dundee¡¡Harbour¡£
Footnotes¡¡for¡¡Chapter¡¡IX¡£
*£§1£§¡¡Hugh¡¡Millar£»¡¡in¡¡his¡¡'Cruise¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Betsy£»'¡¡attributes¡¡the
invention¡¡of¡¡columnar¡¡pier¡work¡¡to¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Bremner£»¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡terms¡¡¡¨the
Brindley¡¡of¡¡Scotland¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡He¡¡has¡¡acquired¡¡great¡¡fame¡¡for¡¡his¡¡skill¡¡in
raising¡¡sunken¡¡ships£»¡¡having¡¡warped¡¡the¡¡Great¡¡Britain¡¡steamer¡¡off
the¡¡shores¡¡of¡¡Dundrum¡¡Bay¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡we¡¡believe¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Telford¡¡had¡¡adopted
the¡¡practice¡¡of¡¡columnar¡¡pier¡work¡¡before¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Bremner£»¡¡in¡¡forming
the¡¡little¡¡harbour¡¡of¡¡Folkestone¡¡in¡¡1808£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡work¡¡is¡¡still
to¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡quite¡¡perfect¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡most¡¡solid¡¡mode¡¡of¡¡laying¡¡stone¡¡on
land¡¡is¡¡in¡¡flat¡¡courses£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡open¡¡pier¡¡work¡¡the¡¡reverse¡¡process
is¡¡adopted¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡blocks¡¡are¡¡laid¡¡on¡¡end¡¡in¡¡columns£»¡¡like¡¡upright
beams¡¡jammed¡¡together¡£¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡laid£»¡¡the¡¡wave¡¡which¡¡dashes¡¡against
them¡¡is¡¡broken£»¡¡and¡¡spends¡¡itself¡¡on¡¡the¡¡interstices£»¡¡where¡¡as£»
if¡¡it¡¡struck¡¡the¡¡broad¡¡solid¡¡blocks£»¡¡the¡¡tendency¡¡would¡¡be¡¡to¡¡lift
them¡¡from¡¡their¡¡beds¡¡and¡¡set¡¡the¡¡work¡¡afloat£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡furious
storm¡¡such¡¡blocks¡¡would¡¡be¡¡driven¡¡about¡¡almost¡¡like¡¡pebbles¡£
The¡¡rebound¡¡from¡¡flat¡¡surfaces¡¡is¡¡also¡¡very¡¡heavy£»¡¡and¡¡produces
violent¡¡commotion£»¡¡where¡¡as¡¡these¡¡broken£»¡¡upright£»¡¡columnar¡looking
piers¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡absorb¡¡the¡¡fury¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea£»¡¡and¡¡render¡¡its¡¡wildest
waves¡¡comparatively¡¡innocuous¡£
*£§2£§¡¡'Memorials¡¡from¡¡Peterhead¡¡and¡¡Banff£»¡¡concerning¡¡Damage
occasioned¡¡by¡¡a¡¡Storm¡£'¡¡Ordered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡House¡¡of¡¡Commons¡¡to¡¡be
printed£»¡¡5th¡¡July£»¡¡1820¡£¡¡£§242¡££§
*£§3£§¡¡'A¡¡Description¡¡of¡¡Bothe¡¡Touns¡¡of¡¡Aberdeene¡£'¡¡By¡¡James¡¡Gordon£»
Parson¡¡of¡¡Rothiemay¡£¡¡¡¡Reprinted¡¡in¡¡Gavin¡¡Turreff's¡¡'Antiquarian
Gleanings¡¡from¡¡Aberdeenshire¡¡Records¡£'¡¡Aberdeen£»¡¡1889¡£
*£§4£§¡¡Robertson's¡¡'Book¡¡of¡¡Bon¡Accord¡£'
*£§5£§¡¡Ibid¡££»¡¡quoted¡¡in¡¡Turreff's¡¡'Antiquarian¡¡Gleanings£»'¡¡p¡£¡¡222¡£
*£§6£§¡¡One¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡however£»¡¡did¡¡returnPeter¡¡Williamson£»¡¡a¡¡native
of¡¡the¡¡town£»¡¡sold¡¡for¡¡a¡¡slave¡¡in¡¡Pennsylvania£»¡¡¡¨a¡¡rough£»¡¡ragged£»
humle¡headed£»¡¡long£»¡¡stowie£»¡¡clever¡¡boy£»¡¨¡¡who£»¡¡reaching¡¡York£»
published¡¡an¡¡account¡¡of¡¡the¡¡infamous¡¡traffic£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡pamphlet¡¡which
excited¡¡extraordinary¡¡interest¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡met¡¡with¡¡a¡¡rapid
and¡¡extensive¡¡circulation¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡his¡¡exposure¡¡of¡¡kidnapping¡¡gave
very¡¡great¡¡offence¡¡to¡¡the¡¡magistrates£»¡¡who¡¡dragged¡¡him¡¡before¡¡their
tribunal¡¡as¡¡having¡¡¡¨published¡¡a¡¡scurrilous¡¡and¡¡infamous¡¡libel¡¡on
the¡¡corporation£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡sentenced¡¡to¡¡be¡¡imprisoned¡¡until¡¡he
should¡¡sign¡¡a¡¡denial¡¡of¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡of¡¡his¡¡statements¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡brought¡¡an
action¡¡against¡¡the¡¡corporation¡¡for¡¡their¡¡proceedings£»¡¡and¡¡obtained
a¡¡verdict¡¡and¡¡damages£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡further¡¡proceeded¡¡against¡¡Baillie
Fordyce¡¡£¨one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡kidnappers£»¡¡and¡¡others£»¡¡from¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡obtained
200L¡£¡¡damages£»¡¡with¡¡costs¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡system¡¡was¡¡thus¡¡effectually¡¡put¡¡a
stop¡¡to¡£
*£§8£§¡¡'A¡¡Description¡¡of¡¡Bothe¡¡Touns¡¡of¡¡Aberdeene¡£'¡¡By¡¡James¡¡Gordon£»
Parson¡¡of¡¡Rothiemay¡£¡¡¡¡Quoted¡¡by¡¡Turreff£»¡¡p¡£¡¡109¡£
*£§8£§¡¡Communication¡¡with¡¡London¡¡was¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡by¡¡no¡¡means¡¡frequent£»
and¡¡far¡¡from¡¡expeditious£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡following¡¡advertisement¡¡of¡¡1778
will¡¡show£º¡¨For¡¡London£º¡¡To¡¡sail¡¡positively¡¡on¡¡Saturday¡¡next£»¡¡the
7th¡¡November£»¡¡wind¡¡and¡¡weather¡¡permitting£»¡¡the¡¡Aberdeen¡¡smack¡£
Will¡¡lie¡¡a¡¡short¡¡time¡¡at¡¡London£»¡¡and£»¡¡if¡¡no¡¡convoy¡¡is¡¡appointed£»
will¡¡sail¡¡under¡¡care¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fleet¡¡of¡¡colliers¡¡the¡¡best¡¡convoy¡¡of¡¡any¡£
For¡¡particulars¡¡apply£»¡¨¡¡&c¡££»¡¡&c¡£
*£§9£§¡¡¡¨The¡¡bottom¡¡under¡¡the¡¡foundations£»¡¨¡¡says¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Gibb£»¡¡in¡¡his
description¡¡of¡¡the¡¡work£»¡¡¡¨is¡¡nothing¡¡better¡¡than¡¡loose¡¡sand¡¡and
gravel£»¡¡constantly¡¡thrown¡¡up¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡on¡¡that¡¡stormy¡¡coast£»
so¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡consolidate¡¡the¡¡work¡¡under¡¡low¡¡water¡¡by
dropping¡¡large¡¡stones¡¡from¡¡lighters£»¡¡and¡¡filling¡¡the¡¡interstices
with¡¡smaller¡¡ones£»¡¡until¡¡it¡¡was¡¡brought¡¡within¡¡about¡¡a¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the
level¡¡of¡¡low¡¡water£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡ashlar¡¡work¡¡was¡¡commenced£»¡¡but¡¡in
place¡¡of¡¡laying¡¡the¡¡stones¡¡horizontally¡¡in¡¡their¡¡beds£»¡¡each¡¡course
was¡¡laid¡¡at¡¡an¡¡angle¡¡of¡¡45¡¡degrees£»¡¡to¡¡within¡¡about¡¡18¡¡inches¡¡of
the¡¡top£»¡¡when¡¡a¡¡level¡¡coping¡¡was¡¡added¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡mode¡¡of¡¡building
enabled¡¡the¡¡work¡¡to¡¡be¡¡carried¡¡on¡¡expeditiously£»¡¡and¡¡rendered¡¡it
while¡¡in¡¡progress¡¡less¡¡liable¡¡to¡¡temporary¡¡damage£»¡¡likewise
affording¡¡three¡¡points¡¡of¡¡bearing£»¡¡for¡¡while¡¡the¡¡ashlar¡¡walling¡¡was
carrying¡¡up¡¡on¡¡both¡¡sides£»¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡or¡¡body¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pier¡¡was
carried¡¡up¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡by¡¡a¡¡careful¡¡backing¡¡throughout¡¡of
large¡¡rubble¡stone£»¡¡to¡¡within¡¡18¡¡inches¡¡of¡¡the¡¡top£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡whole
was¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡granite¡¡coping¡¡and¡¡paving¡¡18¡¡inches¡¡deep£»¡¡with¡¡a
cut¡¡granite¡¡parapet¡¡wall¡¡on¡¡the¡¡north¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡length¡¡of
the¡¡pier£»¡¡thus¡¡protected¡¡for¡¡the¡¡convenience¡¡of¡¡those¡¡who¡¡might
have¡¡occasion¡¡to¡¡frequent¡¡it¡£¡¨Mr¡£¡¡Gibb's¡¡'Narrative¡¡of¡¡Aberdeen
Harbour¡¡Works¡£'
CHAPTER¡¡X¡£
CALEDONIAN¡¡AND¡¡OTHER¡¡CANALS¡£
The¡¡formation¡¡of¡¡a¡¡navigable¡¡highway¡¡through¡¡the¡¡chain¡¡of¡¡locks
lying¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Great¡¡Glen¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Highlands£»¡¡and¡¡extending¡¡diagonally
across¡¡Scotland¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Atlantic¡¡to¡¡the¡¡North¡¡Sea£»¡¡had¡¡long¡¡been
regarded¡¡as¡¡a¡¡work¡¡of¡¡national¡¡importance¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡early¡¡as¡¡1773£»
James¡¡Watt£»¡¡then¡¡following¡¡the¡¡business¡¡of¡¡a¡¡land¡surveyor¡¡at¡¡Glasgow£»
made¡¡a¡¡survey¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡at¡¡the¡¡instance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Commissioners
of¡¡Forfeited¡¡Estates¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡pronounced¡¡the¡¡canal¡¡practicable£»¡¡and
pointed¡¡out¡¡how¡¡it¡¡could¡¡best¡¡be¡¡constructed¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡certainly
no¡¡want¡¡of¡¡water£»¡¡for¡¡Watt¡¡was¡¡repeatedly¡¡drenched¡¡with¡¡rain¡¡while
he¡¡was¡¡making¡¡his¡¡survey£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡difficulty¡¡in¡¡preserving¡¡even
his¡¡journal¡¡book¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨On¡¡my¡¡way¡¡home£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡says£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡passed¡¡through¡¡the
wildest¡¡country¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡saw£»¡¡and¡¡over¡¡the¡¡worst¡¡conducted¡¡roads¡£¡¨
Twenty¡¡years¡¡later£»¡¡in¡¡1793£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Rennie¡¡was¡¡consulted¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the
canal£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡also¡¡prepared¡¡a¡¡scheme£º¡¡but¡¡nothing¡¡was¡¡done¡£¡¡The
project¡¡was£»¡¡however£»¡¡revived¡¡in¡¡1801¡¡
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü