194 SUSPENSION BRIDGES 



said, the idea and execution of chain suspension piers is due to Captain 

 Brown, who built not only the Brighton Chain Pier, but also a very 

 substantial one at Leith, which advances 233 yards into the sea ; it 

 consists of three arches of suspension chains, each having 209 feet iu 

 space; thus the pier has four supports only ; one on shore and three on 

 piles in the middle of the sea. To test its capability of sustaining weight, 

 a mass of 210 tons was kept upon it for some days, in addition to the 

 ordinary weight of passengers, &c. This gentleman was the builder also 

 of the Hammersmith Chain Bridge. 



SUSPENSION BRIDGE OVER THE AVON. 



A very beautiful bridge has been constructed by Mr. Brunei, junior, 

 across the river Avon, joining the rocks known by the name of Saint 

 Vincent Rocks, at Clifton, about a mile below Bristol; the following are 

 the dimensions : 



feet. 



Distance from centre to centre of piers. . . 700 



Height of roadway above level of the water . . 240 



Width of roadway20 feet ; two footways 6 feet each, in all 32 



From the roadway to the top of the sphynx . ." 100 



The gateway . . . . 40 



The base of the pier (height) . . . . 120 



The road is in the centre of the bridge ; the footpaths being on each 

 side, and outside of the chains and suspension rods. The Egyptian 

 gateways are on a scale as large as some of the ancient ones from which 

 they are copied. It will be perceived that the height from the level of the 

 water is sufficient to admit of East and West Indiamen of the largest 

 class to pass under it. 



SUSPENSION BRIDGE OVER THE AIRE, NEAR LEEDS. 



A bridge of a somewhat novel construction was erected (by Mr. Leather, 

 of Leeds) near Hunslet, in 1832 ; which, from its form and contra- 

 distinction to the chain suspension bridges, may not be unaptly called 

 the botv and string suspension bridge. Instead of the chains, two 

 strong cast iron arcs span o.ver the whole space between the two 

 abutments. These arcs spring from below the proposed level of the 



