BLACKPOOL COAST DEFENCE WORKS 95 



Fig. 2 is a cross section of these works, the main feature being a concrete 

 sea-wall and parapet, with a 2 to 1 apron formed of 15-inch granite cubes 

 pitched on a bed of 6 inches of P.C. concrete, overlaying a filling of puddled 

 clay. 



It was about the same time found that the promenade (from the south end 

 of the newly-constructed North Shore works to South Shore) was rapidly 

 becoming inadequate to cope with the ever-increasing annual influx of visitors, 

 so in 1899 a scheme for widening that part of the promenade seawards for a 

 uniform width of 60 feet was sanctioned by Parliament, at an estimated cost of 

 £350,000. At this time Mr. J. S. Brodie, M.I.C.E., was appointed engineer to 

 the Corporation, and he strongly advised the Local Authority to increase the 

 widening from 60 to 100 feet. 



The requisite authority for the extra widening having been obtained from 

 Parliament by the Blackpool Order (No. 1), 1902, the work was proceeded 

 with at the South Shore end in the early spring of 1 902 by direct labour under the 

 supervision of the author, who was appointed Chief Resident Engineer. The 

 author would here like to state that the sea walls, Figs. 3 to 8, were designed 

 by his chief, the late Mr. J. S. Brodie, after inspecting all the principal sea- 

 walls in the United Kingdom and on the Continent. 



The main length of wall, commenced in the spring of 1 902, was completed 

 and opened as far as the North Pier in July, 1 905, a distance of 3, 1 84 lineal yards. 



A sea-wall 380 lineal yards in length from the north end of the North Shore 

 works to what was at that time the northern boundary of the borough, was 

 commenced in August, 1910, and completed in January, 1911. 



The sea-wall from the North Pier to Cocker Street (the southerly end of 

 the North Shore works), a length of 400 yards, and called the ' Princess 

 Parade,' was commenced in October, 1910, and completed in September, 191 1, 

 and was formally opened by H.R.H. Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, on 

 2nd May, 1912. 



Fig. No. 3 shows the general section of sea-wall, a length of 2,384 lineal yards, 

 from the Victoria Pier to the Central Pier. 



Fig. No. 4 shows the general section of the southern half, between the 

 Central Pier and the North Pier, a total length of 800 lineal yards, and Fig. No. 5 

 shows the general section of the northern half of this length. Fig. No. 6 shows 

 the general section between the North Pier and Cocker Street (Princess 

 Parade), a length of 400 lineal yards. 



Fig. No. 7 shows the section of the 380 yards length of sea-wall north of the 

 North Shore works. 



It will be noticed that no piling is shown at the toe of this wall, the reason 

 being that the boulder clay was too hard to admit of pile driving. 



With the exception of 1 ,700 yards at the southerly end of the works, where a 

 clay foundation could not be found at a reasonable depth, the walls and aprons 

 were taken down to the red clay, and whole timber king piles driven 20 feet 

 below toe level, and spaced at 8 and 12 feet centres : permanent whole timber 

 walings are bolted to the king piles, and Karri-wood close sheeting (varying 

 in length according to the nature of the ground) is spiked to the waling. The 



