I have forwarded the following message published in Britarch. Anyone help ?
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-----Original Message-----
From: Brian Durham <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 03 August 1998 00:28
Subject: Well-head in Palladian terrace, Somerset House, London
>Many thanks to list members (and friends) Chris Salter, Andrew Millard,
>Andrew Selkirk, Pauline Philips, Orion, Judith Winter and Janet
>Montgomery, each of whom directed me to the `ind-arch' list following a
>recent enquiry.
>
>While awaiting responses, I thought it would do no harm to put my query
>in front of brit-arch as well since it may have a wider architectural
>interest. I apologise for cross-posting. Here is an edited version,
>which I hope will spark off recognition in a list-member, which will be
>warmly appreciated.
>
>*********************************************
>I am looking for help with a possible pumping engine at Somerset House,
>London, in the Thames-side terrace range of this prestige 1780's
>government development. My specific questions are as follows:
>
>1. Has anyone seen a well-head which opens out to 2.4m internal
>diameter?
>2. Has anyone seen a pump-house incorporated in the terrace of a
>Palladian house or other neoclassical building.
>3. Can anyone direct us to comparative layouts of Newcomen engine-
>houses or Watt engine-houses which might illustrate the options for
>positioning the component parts in a space say 8m square (no mounting
>bolts survived).
>
>******************************************
>Those are the questions. There follows a brief note of the story so
>far:
>
>OAU recently recorded a rendered brick shaft in the Embankment Building
>at Somerset House. Beside it was a sunken structure with a lot of burnt
>material (and a stoking shovel), possibly the base of a fire-box. There
>was also an arrangement of four brick mini-sluices which could have
>returned water back toward the Thames, perhaps from an overflow or
>pressure-release system.
>
>Malcolm Tucker of GLIAS was very helpful, and instantly contacted the
>Birmingham Record Office for their index of Boulton and Watt patents, on
>the understanding that an engine within an important building was likely
>to have been included. He reported that there was no engine listed for
>Somerset House (as address) or for the Office of Works (as owner).
>
>At that stage we were uncertain of the sequence of construction, and
>were therefore prepared to see the engine as later than Watt. However
>Duncan Wood has since confirmed that the pump-house belongs to a primary
>phase of construction, renewing the question.
>
>The lower shaft of the well is a sensible 0.9 - 1m diameter, but it
>widens out to a remarkable 2.4m for the top 2m. We have no way of
>knowing if was sunk deep enough to tap an artesian system, or whether it
>was simply drawing water from porous deposits in the bed of the Thames.
>
>Somerset House has two large cisterns related to fire precautions,
>originally said to be fed by a piped supply from the New River; also a
>network of brick culverts, of which OAU has been able to add to MoLAS'
>previous record.
>
>The recording is being done on behalf of the Heather Trust for the Arts,
>who are converting the south ranges to house the Gilbert Collection of
>Decorative Arts.
>--
>Brian Durham
>[log in to unmask] (home)
>also [log in to unmask] (OAU)
>
>
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