1851 Great Exhibition: Official Catalogue: Class VII.: Introduction

INTRODUCTION.

THIS Class embraces a variety of objects directly or indirectly connected with the purposes of construction. While the preceding had reference to the personal or domestic wants of mankind, this occupies a wider field, and includes contrivances adapted to the preparation of public works, as well as of private dwellings, and embraces the sciences of architecture and civil engineering in their most extensive sense. The general title of the Class, "Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Building Contrivances," sufficiently indicates its extent and defines its limits.

The following subdivisions include all that can be properly said to belong to this department of the Exhibition:—

• A. Comprises Foundations and Building Contrivances connected with Hydraulic Works, such as Piles and Pile-driving, Coffer-dams, Diving-bells, Boring Tools, etc. These are necessarily represented by models only, or in great part, as the works themselves are of too great magnitude for exhibition.

• B. Scaffolding and Centerings for the erection of Chimneys, Columns, Towers, Bridges, etc.; Portable Scaffoldings, Ladders, Fire- escapes, etc.; Centerings for Arches, Domes, Vaults, etc.

• C. Forms an important subdivision, comprehending Bridges, Tunnels, and Engineering contrivances for crossing ravines, etc.

• D. Relates to Dock, Harbour, River, and Canal Works.

• E. Lighthouses and Beacons.

• F. Roofs, Buildings, and contrivances for covering large areas.

• G. Water-works, and the Engineering contrivances connected with the obtaining, storing, and distribution of Water in towns.

• H. Gas-works, and contrivances connected with the economical production of Artificial Light.

• I. Sewerage, Cleaning, Paving, and the contrivances connected with the sanitary conditions of towns.

• J. Warming and Ventilating Domestic Residences, and contrivances for such purposes.

Objects in this Class are found in the Building at the western end of the North Gallery, and also in the Areas and Avenues partly occupied by Classes 5 and 6 in the Ground-floor, North side. Several beautiful models connected with this Class have likewise a place in the Central Avenue or Nave.

Containing a number of costly and beautiful models of many of the great triumphs of civil engineering and architecture, this Class presents an interesting view of the state and capabilities of the sciences it represents at the present day. Among the objects included under the subdivision of Bridges, etc., will be found some of the most elaborate and accurate models probably ever constructed. Some of these are so minutely correct, that it is stated that even the threads of the screws are reduced to a scale. Tubular, suspension, and other bridges, are represented by some of these models, which are on a large scale. Chain-piers, and piers of other descriptions, each indicative of their applicability to the particular purposes for which they are designed, or to the positions occupied by the originals, are also exhibited in their models. The application of iron chain-cables to purposes of this kind, and its history, are recorded in this Catalogue and illustrated in the Exhibition. A variety of bridges on new principles, or upon new modifications of principles already known, are also shown, and their respective merits are capable of being ascertained in the models.

Dock and harbour works are also adequately represented by their respective models. Among others is a model of the Breakwater in Plymouth Sound, executed in limestone, and presenting a favourable idea of that great work. The lens-apparatus of lighthouses, in most recent and improved forms, is exhibited not by models but by the apparatus itself. A large number of models are of works proposed to be executed, and convey a strong impression of the various directions in which inventive skill is exercised. Interest will be excited by many well-executed models of structures in cast and wrought iron. The application of these metals to the purposes of construction, so largely illustrated in the Exhibition Building itself, forms an important feature in the history of modern architecture, and is also represented by various models of conservatories, such as the great Palm-house at Kew, roofs of railway stations, etc. The miscellaneous contrivances connected with the simpler construction and arrangements of private dwellings are found in great numbers. Many of these relate to ventilation, to windows, doors, and chimneys, and appear to promise improvements of importance in these respects.

The study of this Class is instructive, as the means of attaining an approximate idea of the present state of the sciences of civil engineering, architecture, and construction in our own country. The objects illustrating the Class can scarcely be said adequately to represent the subjects embraced by the Class, since they lose the advantage of being seen of their due dimensions. While in Class 5 it is possible to exhibit the actual machine engaged in raising the Britannia Tube to its site, in the present Class the Tube itself, the most wonderful engineering structure of its kind, can only be exhibited in a model, bearing but a small proportion to the size of the original. This is of little moment to the engineer or architect, but to others, unaccustomed to estimate from a scale, Class 7 does not appear so imposing as the preceding Classes, although in reality it contains practical representations of the most mighty works of construction undertaken by any nation in recent times.— R. E.

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