1851 Great Exhibition: Official Catalogue: Class VII.: Benjamin Green
3. GREEN, BEN., 3 Arcade, Newcastle-upon-Tyne — Designer.
Model of the central arch of the Ouse-burn and Willington viaducts of the Newcastle and North Shields Railway, erected by John and Benjamin Green, in 1837-8.
Geometrical drawing and view of the Ouse-burn viaduct; also of the Willington viaduct.
The piers and abutments arc of stone: each arm is composed of three ribs, formed to the proportionate curve shown in the model. Every rib is put together with 3-inch deck deals, in lengths of from 20 to 45 feet, and two of the deals in width. The first course is formed of two whole deals in width, and the next of one whole and two half deals; and so on alternately until the whole rib is formed. Each rib consists of 15 deals in height or thickness, and the ends are butted one against the other, breaking joint, so that no two of the horizontal or radiating joints shall come together; the whole are connected with oak trenails, or pins, each of which passes through three of the deals in thickness. Between every deal a layer of brown paper, dipped in boiling tar, is laid, to secure the joints from being affected by wet, and so as to make the timbers bed tightly one upon another. The ends of each rib are inserted into large cast-iron shoes or sockets, which are first fixed to the springing stones of the masonry, and secured with long iron bolts, four to each plate, run in with lead; the three ribs are connected together with diagonal braces and iron bolts.
The spandrils formed by the arches, being great on framing account of the span, the framing is made in proportionate strength. A beam, 14 inches square, is fixed about the middle of the spandril, inclining upwards to the crown of the arch, from which struts are carried, both above and below it; the above, are perpendicular to the longitudinal beams of the roadway,— and those below, are radiating to the centre of the arch.
The longitudinal beams under the roadway are 14 inches square, and transverse joists, 3 feet 6 inches apart, and projecting about 2 feet on each side, are laid across to receive the 3-inch planking, which is covered with a composition to form a roadway.
The spandril-framing is connected and bound, both to the roadway and to the ribs, by means of iron bolts, straps and keys, in the different situations shown on the model. One of the radiating struts in each spandril is carried on from the rib to the longitudinal beams, passing through and run down the piers about 8 feet.
In this system of timber-bridge building, the straight trussing in the main principle of support is dispensed with, for the spandril-framing must not be looked upon as such; it is merely a combination of wood work, to convey the weight coming upon the roadway on the simple curved rib, and all timbers in a state of tension are avoided; for when a weight comes upon a roadway, the whole structure undergoes compression.
[The cost of the Ouse-burn viaduct was £24,500. That of the Willington viaduct was £23,002. It was when engaged in designing the bridge for crossing the River Tyne at Scotswood, in 1827-8, that Mr. Green first projected the laminated arch; but the depth of water, its rapidity during floods, and the uncertainty of the foundations, rendering the building of many piers expensive, caused Mr. Green to recommend a suspension bridge at this spot. On the day of opening of this suspension bridge, 12,000 persons rushed on at once, when the weight on its centre was not less than 468 tons, and it proved capable of sustaining this weight.— S. C.]
Model of the monument erected on Pensher Hill to the late Earl Durham, in 1844.
Geometrical drawing, in colour, of the first proposed wooden bridge with stone piers across the Tyne, at Newcastle-on-Tyne, at a high level, in 1838.
Geometrical drawing, in colour, of design for the proposed high-level bridge, in stone and iron, at Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1841.
Plan from Gateshead, through Newcastle, in the line of the high-level bridge, 1841.
View of Scotswood wrought-iron suspension bridge over the Tyne, erected in 1828-9.
View of the monument erected on Pensher Hill.
Model of the Grey Column at Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1837.
View of Grey Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne, as designed previous to its commencement.
View of the interior of the library of the Literary and Philosophical Society, Newcastle-on-Tyne.