The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-11-05 00:00:00

BIRKENHEAD. supported by stone retaining walls resting on an invert. There is one shalt near the middle for ventilation. About 212 yards of it were driven through sand and clay, and 255 through indurated red sand-stone. The clear width between the springs is 15 feet; width at the rails 16 feet 6 inches ; height above the invert 16 feet 6 inches ; height above the rails 14 feet 6 inches. The arch is semicircular, and the invert segmental. The extreme thickness of the arch is 2 feet, and it is partly constructed of stone and partly of brick, as the emergencies required. The crown of the arch is lined throughoutwith brickwork, and pointed with cement. It is proposed to carry on the general busi ness of the railway on the river terminus, for which pur pose a temporary station, with sheds, is nearly completed. These sheds are of wood, and run parallel a length of about 100 yards. The area of the station or yard is very large, being, from the mouth of the tunnel to the quay, about 250 feet long, and 120 in width between the high retaining walls, which are of rusticated stone work, surmounted by a height of brickwork, the last banded, and topped with stone coping, falling in steps towards the river. Here the excavation presents the appearance of a vast quarry. The whole of this large area will be covered in by an iron roof. When completed, we understand that passengers may take their seats in the trains, and be whirledoff, without stop, until they land at Euston-square in the metropolis. The contractors for the formation of the tunnel were very fortunate in the nature of the ground. They not only found a large quantity of excellent sand, for which they obtained a ready market, but fine beds of hard freestone, still more valuable and i❑ requisition. Of the latter they have yet to dispose of a large tonnage in huge blocks. But, although the contractors were favoured in finding the ma terials which they generally met with in excavation to be thus available, the engineer, Mr. Yarrow, (of the Chester and Birkenhead Railway,) had peculiar difficulties to con tend with, in quick sands and other obstacles—all of which, however, he, by perseverance and skill, finally overcame. ... The Monk's Ferry Hotel is a well-known splendid establishment, with a fine frontage to the river, and is conducted by Mr. Hilliar, (as are Mr. Willoughby's, of Birkenhead Ferry Hotel, and Mr. Gough's of Woodside,) with every attention to visitors. Great alterations are about to be made in the building—including a new front age to the west, with an open space on that side (at a right angle) as a commodious approach, on the site of the pre sent stable and coach yard. From this interesting terminus we proceeded to Abbey street, the hollow in the centre of which, at the junction with it of Priory-street, has been filled up, so that it i 9 now nearly level, and both streets much improved. On the south side of Abbey-street, in the field between it and Tranmere Pool, a small dock for flats is being formed by Mr. Gilbertson, and a good deal of ground has been taken in from the shore below by a river or sea wall. Two other small docks are also being excavated a little to the west. On Tranmere Pier (and about half way down) on the opposite side of Tranmere Pool, Mr, Chacnberlaine, the proprietor of Tranmere Ferry, has constructed a hand some castellated gate-house; and close to it a warehouse —also on the pier—for the storeage of goods from flats, small coasters, &c., and other purposes. It may be here stated, as an historical reminiscence that the first large vsssel built on the opposite shore of the Wirrall peninsula, was launched from a site a little to the northward of the top of this pier, many years ago. It was a fine brig, built by a Mr. Highton, and was after wards purchased by our townsman, Chas. Tayleur, Esq We next visited The New Market. This is in course of erection by Messrs. Fox and Co., of Staffordshire, and is 430 feet long by 131 broad. Our market of St. John's is little larger, being 555 feet by 135. The cost, including foot-paths, &c., will be about £16,000. There are three ridges to the roof, with pedi ments at the ends, and two tiers of semicircular windows at the sides. Every modern improvement in such a struc ture has been made available, and the accommodation in shops and stalls will be ample. The whole is excavated or cellared out below, and the floor supported on cast iron beams, supported by pillars of the same material at vari ous points in the line of this span. It will be divided into three avenues by two rows of iron columns of a very neat, light and decorative pattern, with foliated capitals, and these will support a wrought iron roof over the whole. There will be roof-lights as well as lateral and end win dows; and ventilation has been carefully attended to. The building, the walls of which are rapidly rising to their height, will have a pleasing and cheerful appearance, and will be very roomy, though in outward appearance compact. From the New Market we proceeded northward towards the site of the new (locks, before noticing which we may state that a great improvement is about to be effected in The Woodside Ferry Slip. The present pier, though perhaps the finest on the Cheshire side. is to be widened to more than double its present extent, and, in another way, to be rendered still more commodious. The widening will be formed on the north side of the present slip, and to such an extent as will admit of an intermediate wall between each side, or, in other words. down the centre. This wall will be of 20 feet wide, and level on the top with the roadway just above the castellated little buildings known as the pay-gates. The present slip will be on the one side of this wall, and the new slip on the other. The object of the alteration (which was, we believe, suggested by the Admiralty, and instantly acceded to by the commissioners) is to afford shelter to passengers landing or departing, when it blows fresh either up or down the river, as it will form a break water to prevent the tide from rushing over the pier, and the lee side of it may always be taken by the steam-boats to secure that advantage. It will also, to a great extent, break off the wind and rain, which are so frequently an noying, if not dangerous to wayfarers. This wall, which will run to the point of the pier, on a level, (the slips forming inclined planes on either side,) will—a happy idea of the commissioners—be well flagged and surrounded by an ornamental ballustrade or railway, and will be lighted at night with gas, so as to render it a promenade for loung ers or expectants, who, while enjoying the fresh air, may see the passengers landing or embarking, and pick out their friends or acquaintances, without going upon either of the slips. We think the purpose may be still further improved, and suggest that this 20-feet walk might be spanned by a light roof of iron or zinc, provided with rustic seats, and on each side ornamented with evergreens and other hardy plants in pots or tubs, protected by wire work, which would render it a pleasing and almost rural resort. The Dock Works, &c. These will commence with the formation of the Tidal ing ground on the shoreward, for coasters. On the Bain, l s of (as noted in the plan) 16 acre s , w ith th e beach- north-west side of this basin, at the spot marked with a