The Sun.
London, England, 1827-07-25 00:00:00

THE NEW LONDON BRIDGE.

On Monday afternoon the Corporation "Com-
mittee for superintending the building of the New
London Bridge, attended Mr. R. L. Jones, their
Chairman, to the spot, for the purpose of putting in
the key-stone of the land arch on the Southwark
side, which is the first arch turned. • Mr. John Rens
nie, the architect, Mr. Knight, and Mr. Holing-
worth, directed the operations.
The key-stone was formed of a block of red
Peterhead granite, four feet six inches deep by two
feet three inches wide, 18 inches thick, and in
weight about two tons. The Chairman, aided by
other members of the Committee, gave the first
blows ; the workmen were permitted to conclude
-the operation, which they did in about an hour.
The span of this first arch is 130 feet, with a rise
of 25 feet from the high-water line. The span
of each of the arches in Waterloo-bridge is 120 feet,
with a rise of 28 feet from the high-water line. The'
centre arch will be of 140 feet, with a rise of 30
feet from the same line. The largest arch in Eng-
land is the Pont-y-Prydd, the glory of tilamorgarts
shire, of 140 feet span. The Pent de Neuilly; near
Paris, is considered the c4ef d'oeuvre of French
bridge building. The chief pride a the conti-
nent is the celebrated Ponte del Trinnita, at Flo-
rence, which consists of three'arches of very nearly
the same proportions. .T)/te two arches on each side
. of the centre arch of the new London-bridge be
each of 140 feet span,
It is probable t.l_,at had it
not been for the expe-
rience gained irOm the building of the Waterloo-
bridge, aesd some others recently erected, the con-
struct
on of arches of such an increased magnitude
. vet. a wide, deep, and rapid stream, would not have
been hazarded. It is unnecessary, perhaps, to state,
that the longer the radius of the upper portion of
the ellipse may be, the greater' is the pressure at the
Point mentioned. At Waterloo-bridge where the
versed sign was higher, the arches, opened consider-
ably more in proportion. These circumstances,
therefore, are decisive as to the improved workman-
ship of arch joints, considering the radii of the curvature
of the respective arches. The arches of the Pont de
Neuilly sunk considerably; one of the land arches as
much as twenty-two inches. The distortion of the
curve which it occasioned is now perceptible to the
eye. The construction of the key-stone of the new
arch was much discussed, and it is considered to
excel in science all which have preceded it. The
foundations of the piers are deeper than those of
enyknown bridge in Europe.
The Corporation Committee expressed inuch sa-
tiefaction at the forward state of the works. All the
Tesuidations are accomplished, except the foundation
for the abutment on the City side of the river. The
contractors are bound to have the bridge compbted
by March, 1830. -On Monday a plan for grand ap-
proaches on the London side was laid before the
:Bridge Committee, by Mr. John Rennie.: We hear
shat it is to form an open square on the present site
lof Crooked-lane, in the line of Monument-yard.
The object of this square, in point of utility, is to
relieve thucechurch-street of the immense crowd of
waggons and carriages by which the road is
obstructed and rendered dangerous during the hours
of business. It-is intended to throw open the Mo-
nument, and make the architecture of the houses of
a corresponding magnificence. The Committee
entered heartily into the plan, but they always in
these matters move slowly, having a proper feeling
of awe for the responsibility which devolves upon
them.

The Fishmongers' Company, which is as liberal
as it is wealthy, has begun to act with spirit. They
have relinquished a plot of ground, 20 feet deep, to
the City, for 20,000/., to enable them ,to form the
necessary approaches to the new bridge in a better
manner. This ground they considered to be worth,
at the full value, about 30,000/. Their Hall is
already dismantled in consequence, and in another
Month it is expected it will have disappeared.
On the part of the city, arrangements have been
made for the Southwark side, to throw open St.
Saviour's church for the public view, as an edifice
worthy of the bridge and of the metropolis. But
no corresponding exertions seem likely to be made
by the parish of St. Saviour, which yet allows their
church (acknowledged by competent judges to be
the next sacred edifice in rank after Westminster
Abbey and St. Paul's) to remain partly restored,,
and partly in ruins. The sum requisite for the com-
plete restoration of the church is estimated to be
about 20,0001. The rebuilding of such a work
Would probably cost upwards .of 150,000/. The
parish have productive estates and other funds to
complete the work, but a party there contend that
it ought to be considered a national work, and that
the charge ought not to fall on the parish. The
remissness with respect to this edifice is also, in
some degree, attributed to the conscientious scruples
of majority of active parishioners, who are Dis-
senters, and on religious grounds adverse. to aiding
-in the restoration of a structure which has in some
degree a cathedral character.