212 



RENNIE'S DOCKS AND HARBOURS. 



PART VII. 



Had this been carried out, it would have proved of 

 immense advantage to the numerous land-bound vessels 

 which have occasion to put into the port. His original 

 plan also contemplated a pier extending from the outer 

 end of Salt Island, parallel to the one above described, 

 1500 feet long, terminating at a depth of 25 feet at low 

 water ; and as it would have been about 1400 feet 

 distant from the other, and was to be provided with a 

 jetty at right angles to its extremity, it would have pro- 

 vided an additional low-water harbour of 40 acres. The 

 estimated cost of this work was 240,000/. ; and if to 

 this be added the probable outlay on the additional 

 wet dock above mentioned of 124,000/., it will be 

 found that a total low- water space of 46 acres, and an 

 additional tidal space of 25 acres, together with a wet 

 dock of 23 acres, or a total floating area of about 94 

 acres, with an ample extent of quay accommodation, suf- 

 ficient for any amount of packet or general commercial 

 business, would have been provided at a comparatively 

 moderate expenditure. Unhappily Mr. Rennie's plans 

 were not carried out; and though his original design 

 admirably answered the purpose intended, and the whole 

 of the packet service was satisfactorily performed at the 

 old port for many years, when an extension of Holyhead 

 Harbour was determined upon, the Government (after 

 Mr. Rennie's death) employed an engineer who pro- 

 ceeded upon an entirely new plan, the execution of 

 which, when completed, will probably cost upwards of 

 two millions sterling ; and, after all, when the rocky 

 and bad nature of the holding-ground within it is taken 

 into account, 1 its security and convenience are still 

 matters of considerable doubt amongst naval men. 



During the period in which he was engaged in carry- 

 ing out the works at Holyhead, Mr. Rennie was also 



1 It will be remembered that the 

 Or eat Eastern was nearly wrecked in 

 consequence of the bad holding-ground 



within the new harbour in the year 

 1859. 



