JS-io.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



257 



equation table engraved on all good horizontal dials, without which precau- 

 tion it would have been impossible to compare the time shown by a watch 

 with the time shown by the sun-dial. From this it is sufficiently obvious 

 that for all practical purposes mean time could alone be employed. 



The principal public clocks at Paris, including them at the Hotel de ViUe, 

 which cost the city of Paris 90,000 francs i.C3,(i00), were originally made to 

 show solar time; this had long been felt to be a great inconvenience, and 

 on the 21th of December, 1826, they were made to show mean time. 



Previously however to this being done, an inquiry was made of Mr. Tay- 

 lor of the Uoyal Observatory, Greenwich, to know at what period the public 

 clocks in London ceased to show solar time. Mr. Taylor applied to Mr. 

 Vulliamy on tlie subject, who, having examined three of the oldest Palace 

 clocks, arrived at the conclusion that they had never shown any other than 

 mean time, and he did not believe that any other time was ever shown by 

 the public clocks in this country. 



RISE AND PROGRESS OF BIRlvE.NlIEAD. 



(From the Liverpool Chronicle.J 



Few places within a short period have risen so rapidly into importance as 

 Birkenhead; twenty-five years have not passed since it contained only about 

 one hundred persons occupying the three Imuses, which with tlie ruius of the 

 ancient priory, the ferry-house and a few straggling cottages, were all the 

 buildings then comprised in the township, viU, chapelry, or place,— for there 

 is some dilliculty in accurately denominating tliis now flourishing town, — 

 which suddenly, under the fostering care of men, whose names will fnr ages 

 be associated with its history, has been ushered into a new state of existence. 

 Never were works of immense public utility, grand in conception, and ail- 

 mirable in design, commenced with greater spirit and energy than in Birken- 

 head : within the last few years the whole neighbourhood has assumed a 

 different aspect, — a town now stands where then only a few scattered bouses 

 could be seen. Upon green fields which scarcely served for pasture, stately 

 mansions, and magnificent streets, squares, and terraces, have risen ; and 

 where the tidal waters, even last year, flowed uninterrupted in their course, 

 hundreds and thousands of labourers are now employed, transforming the 

 sanded shores and weed-clad banks of the Mersey into immense docks, for 

 the accomniodalion of vessels from every nation and of every clime. 



In 1821, steam-boats were first established by the late Mr. George La 

 French, between Birkenhead and Liverpool. The anticipation of the benefit 

 expected from their introduction was soon realised. Previously, the only 

 mode of crossing the Mersey was by boats, propelled either by the oar or by 

 sails, and at certain states of the tide, hours were required to accomplish the 

 short passage. A residence in Cheshire was, therefore, incompatible with 

 any trading avocations in Liverpool, but the mighty revolution which has 

 been eflected by the powers of steam, reducing that distance to a mere ten 

 minutes' sail, in a short time caused a current of immigration to set in upon 

 the Cheshire shore of the river, which regularly and progressively added to 

 it£ prosperity. 



The next following years witnessed considerable additions to the number 

 of inhabitants, and to the accommodations provided fnr them. In 1822 the 

 new church was opened, and several piles of houses erected. 



In 182t, the late Mr. Laird, in conjunction with Mr. Forsyth of Liverpool, 

 purchased a large quantity of land about the centre of the town, with the in- 

 tention of erecting upon it buildings in a style of magnificence unsurpassed 

 in this part of the kingdom. The execution of their plans was confided to 

 Mr. Gillespie Graham, of Edinburgh, from whose designs Hamilton-square 

 and the street immediately adjacent were laid out. 



The number of persons who settled in Birkenhead continuing to increase, 

 and much inconvenience being experienced from the want of a public market 

 in the township, an application to parliament was proposed for an act to 

 supply the deficiency, and to establish a police. The suggestion was, how- 

 ever, violently opposed, and it was with much difliculty its promoters were 

 enabled to carry the measure, which received the Royal assent on the 10th 

 June, 1833. 



The Commissioners immediately proceeded to carry the provisions of their 

 act into elFect ; a police force was appointed, the sewerage of the town com- 

 menced, and in the following year, tlie market-house and other public ofiiees 

 were completed, which t!ic increased number of inhabitants had rendered 

 quite requisite. Large masses were now building, and tlie greatest activity 

 cihibited in this and the adjoining townships. To the southward, joining to 

 Birkenhead, in Tianmere, a pier, graving dock, and ship-building yard, were 

 constructed and in full operation ; on the northern side of Wallasey Pool, in 

 Poulton, various chemical works were erected; while in Birkenhead several 

 large ships were building, and to the extensive boiler works which had for 

 several years been carried on by the late Mr. L.iird, an important addition 

 was made by the establishment of the iron ship-building yard, from which, 

 in this year (1834) the John Randolph, the first iron vessel for America, was 

 dispatched. 



Hitherto the greater portion of the houses in Birkenhead, and particularly 

 those in the southern, the most densely populittd part, had been erected 

 without any regard to regularity of plan or elevation, in narrow and confincil 



streets. In the later purchases, it is true, restrictions had been made for the 

 construction of wider and more regular streets; but little had been done to 

 promote that uniformity of design which it had been the object of Messrs 

 Laird and Forsyth to attain. In 1830 a considerable area was purchased in 

 the middle of the township, of which a portion was laid out as a park, 

 bounded with wide streets, v^hich crossed it at right angles. The enclosure 

 was soon studded with detached villas, giving a character and appearance to 

 the town that it had not previously enjoyed. 



A railway between Chester and Birkenhead, a measure which had been 

 rejected in Parliament some years before, was sanctioned by the legislature 

 in 1837. The greatest activity continued to prevail in the affairs of tlie 

 towns^iip, in which a large Wesleyan chapel, Roman Catholic chapel, a 

 church dedicated to the Holy Trinity, a Scotch church, an Independent 

 chapel, with other edifices dedicated to religious and educational piirooses 

 were successively erected. '^ 



A considerable addition was made in 1839 to the larger houses in the 

 township, in another side of Hamilton-square being comideted : the Inde- 

 pendent chapel was opened, and the foundation of the elegant Scotch Kirk 

 was laid. 



New Market. 



The Commissioners for the Improvement of Birkenhead, by the act of their 

 incorporation, were empowered to erect a Town-ball for the transaction of 

 magisterial and parochial businesK, and a prison, together with a Public 

 Market. Towards these purposes Mr. Price contributed an acre of land for 

 the site, in addition to paying a moiety of the expenses of obtaininir the act 

 of parliament. The erection of the buildings was committed to Mr. HamD- 

 hng, architect, of Liverpool and Birkenhead ; his designs having been ap- 

 pioved by the Commissioners, they immediately entered into a contract with 

 Mr. \Ulter Walker for the completion of the works. The front elevation, 

 which 13 of Storeton stone, in the Grecian style, comprehends an entrance 

 gate to the market and two wings, the one to the left extending 74 feet con- 

 taming offices for the magistrates, overseers, and commissioners ; behind 

 winch, and communicating with them, is a capacious room 72 feet bv 24 

 feet, divided by two screens of columns and folding doors, this room is 

 lighted by three handsome cast-iron dome lights, and has an entrance hall 

 and other requisites. The opposite wing, the entrance of which is in HamiU 

 ton-street, contains public oftices for the police, a dwelling-house for the 

 constable, and also day-rooms and cells for the prisoners. 



But extensive as was the building, it was soon evident tliat it would be 

 utterly inadequate to the wants and exigencies of the rapidly inereashiir •>o 

 pulation of the neighbourhood ; and rather than attempt to intrease the p'ro 

 sent the commissioners resolved to erect another market on a far lareer 

 scale. Availing themselves of a portion of their lands remaining unoccupied 

 they purchased some immediately adjacent, so as to afford them a more 

 eligible site for the market, of greater dimensions than any in Liverpool, ex- 

 cept the far celebrated St. John's Market.* ' 



.■,!i''^iu""'''r^'"'^"''°"* °f "''' ''8''' """J <'''=ga"t "Market are 430 feet by 

 130. The roof IS in three spans— two of 50 feet and one of 30 feet, and ii 

 supported by 46 cast-iron columns, 25 feet high. The market is vaulted, the 

 floor supported by 115 columns, and is the largest floor, we believe ever 

 constructed on cast-iron columns. There is water laid on to each which is 

 supplied from four tanks over the shops. 700 tons of iron have been con- 

 sumed and the total cost of the erection is £23,000. The market was com- 

 menced last year, but was thrown back somewhat in consequence of the de 

 vastating effects of the hurricane in January, which swept away a portion of 

 the walls. There are two fountains, composed of Portland cement, which 

 throw up columns of water, and are constantly playing at the intersections 

 of the entrances. There are six entrances— two frim Hamilton-street, two 

 from Albion-street, and the other two from Market-street and Oliver street 

 The whole is surrounded by iron railing. There are four rows of gas pillars' 

 and 92 gas lamps. These lights, called " globe lamps," have a peculiarly 

 unique appearance, and are much more elegant than the lamps whi^h are 

 ordinarily seen in the markets. The building, it ought to be stated, is" fire- 

 proof. The iron roof, with its louvres and sky-lights for ventilation, is an 

 elegant piece of workmanship, and is similar in appearance to most of the 

 roofs which are to be seen at railway stations, the majority of which have 

 been erected by the same manufacturers. In the vaults are'eight ice-houses 

 for the use of the fish shops ; the fish stalls are lined with marble There 

 are two illuminated clocks over each end entrance. The contract was under 

 taken by Messrs. Fox and Henderson, of the London iron.works, near Bir' 

 mingham, and under the able and skilful judgment of Mr. Wilson, who has 

 superintended the building from its commencement, Birkenhead is enabled 

 to boast the possession of one of the most graceful and perfect structures of 

 the kind m the kingdom— perhaps in Europe. 



' Us dimensions as compared ivitli the diffuicnt covered !H.arl;e(s, nre as follows — 

 St. John's Waiket .. .. .™ feet long by 136 feet broad. 



ScotlandUoad Market 



Great George-street Markit .. 201 



Gill. street .. .. 18J 



Birlientiead Now Market .. 430 



Birkenhead Old Market .. 1S5 



ditto 

 ditto 

 ditto 

 ditto 

 ditto 



188 ditto. 

 \\ii ditto. 

 131 ditto. 

 LSI) ditto. 

 90 ditto. 



