IMPROVED MEANS FOR RAISING SAND OR SHINGLE COVERED BY THE TIDE TO THE LEVEL OF HIGH WATER, AND THERE WITH FORMING EMBANKMENTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEA WORKS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Manico, of Bedford Street, Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, Lieutenant Royal Marines, for the Invention of
"IMPROVED MEANS FOR RAISING SAND OR SHINGLE COVERED BY THE TIDE TO
THE LEVEL OF HIGH WATER, AND THERE WITH FORMING EMBANKMENTS FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SEA WORKS."
Sealed the 9th August 1867, and dated the 12th February 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Manico at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
February 1867.
I, EDWARD MANICO, of Bedford Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
Lieutenant Royal Marines, do bereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVED MEANS FOR RAISING SAND OR SHINGLE COVERED BY THE TIDE TO
THE LEVEL OF HIGH WATER, AND THEREWITH FORMING EMBANKMENTS FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SEA WORKS," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to construct sea walls, embankments, or
breakwaters in a most economical manner, rendering the influx and out-
flow of the tide subservient to my operations.
To establish the foundation of an embankment, breakwater, or breastwork
I construct a cradle of wrought-iron bars, of say, about one and a quarter
inches broad by one quarter of an inch thick, placing the bars at certain

page_text: distances, and usually equidistant from each other, other bars of same
dimensions crossing at right angles, and the whole forming a square of about
four feet six inches. I rivet or otherwise secure the bars at each junction
or overlap. The cubic contents of a cradle so constructed would be three
yards and two-thirds of a yard, and weight of metal about two and a half
hundredweight. Wherever an embankment, breakwater, or line of demar-
cation is to be formed I place these cradles in a row or rows, so that the tide
shall flow over them. I fill the cradles with rough stones, or their sides may
be lined with wattles or brushwood intertwisted with the bars. As the tide
advances it brings with it sand or shingle, and as it recedes a deposit of either
is made in the metal cradles, being caught or held by the stones, wattles, or
brushwood forming the lining of the cradles; this goes on till the cradles
become filled with sand or shingle, and form each a solid block. Other
cradles are then placed upon those filled, care being taken that they break
joint, dovetail, or overlap with, into, or upon each other. These latter cradles
are formed of larger dimensions than those first-named, and are constructed
to contain about forty-four cubic yards of material, and made of bars of two
inches wide by three-eighths of an inch thick, or thereabouts, and these cradles
form the superstructure of the seawork, the whole being filled in with sand
or shingle up to the level of high water by the action of the tides, those above
the level to be filled with stone and concrete, both or either. I do not confine
myself to any particular form or dimension in constructing the above-mentioned
cradles, and any desired angle or curve may be given to them to secure their
mutual dependance upon each other by causing them to dovetail or overlap as
before mentioned.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Manico in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th August 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
MANICO, of Bedford Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Lieutenant
Royal Marines, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the Twelfth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth
year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Edward Manico, Her special licence that I, the said Edward Manico,.

page_text: my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward
Manico, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED MEANS FOR RAISING
SAND OR SHINGLE COVERED BY THE TIDE TO THE LEVEL OF HIGH WATER, AND THERE-
WITH FORMING EMBANKMENTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEA WORKS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Manico, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Manico, do bereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the Sheet of Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
Figures marked thereon:-
The object of my Invention is the construction of seaworks such as embank-
ments, breakwaters, or other similar works in the most economical manner,
obtaining my principal material from the sand or shingle of the seashore, and
rendering the influx and outflow of the tides subservient to my operations.
For commencing and establishing the foundation of an embankment, break-
water, or breastwork, I use cradles composed of wrought-iron bars, con-
structing them in the following manner:-The bars being about an inch and
a quarter of an inch broad and about a quarter of an inch' in thickness, are
placed at certain distances apart (usually equidistant) from each other; similar
bars of similar dimensions are then made to cross the bars first mentioned at
right angles, and at each junction or overlap of the bars they are secured to
each other by passing through them a half-inch rivet (or they may be other-
wise fastened together at their junctions if preferred), the whole forming a
square of four feet and six inches. The content or capacity of each cradle so
constructed is three and one-third cubic yards, and the weight of metal used
in its construction two hundredweight two quarters, or thereabout. The
cradles being thus constructed and required for use, I drop them in a row or
rows alternately close and about six feet apart, ballasting each cradle with
rough stones passed through the square interstices formed by the bars to about
one-fifth of the inner area of the cradle; I also place brushwood or otherwise

page_text: wattle to retain the stones as well as the sand or shingle (which gradually
accumulates) within the said area, intertwing the brushwood or other
wattling material with the bars of the cradle, and which nevertheless allows
the tidal waters to flow freely through the cradle, until the whole of its area is
filled with sand or shingle or other matters. As the current or tide advances
it bears with it sand, shingle, or other matters, and the waters meeting the
obstruction of the cradles deposit those matters both within and around the
obstruction, and they are caught and held by the stones and wattling forming
the lining and bed of the cradles, until they become filled as well as the spaces
around them, shoaling the water to the top of the cradles. Upon a repetition
of this process the accumulation will be increased until it rises to the surface
of the water, and this is the first part of my operations.
I would here observe that although I have given the placement of my cradles
on commencing operations in row or rows alternately close and six feet apart,
I have done so simply by way of illustration, as, according to the nature of the
shore, or for other reasons, I place them irregularly, or in the most profitable
manner for the purpose in view.
When the first operation is completed and made level I bring into use
eradles of a different form or shape, and I make them with flat bar iron two
inches wide and three-eighths of an inch thick, eighteen feet in length, ten
feet in width, and ten feet in height or thereabout, as shewn in the Drawing,
Figs. 1 to 6, Fig. 7 being for the convenience of working either form, Fig. 8
for changing direction, and Fig. 9 for subaquean work. These diagrams are
drawn to scale of one-eighth of an inch to a foot. Openings are left at the
top of the cradles for admitting stones or other material, and as these cradles
fit into each other forming a perfect bond, taking any required shape, either
angle or curve, the embankment, breakwater, or breastwork, when brought to
its proper height by this mode of construction will become a substantial, per-
manent, and economical seawork.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and means by which it
is carried into practical effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the use of cradles of the exact dimensions herein given, as the size
and form may vary to suit the circumstances of each particular case; nor do
I in commencing my operations confine myself to any precise mode or modes
of placing the cradles, as these may vary according to circumstances without
departing from the principle herein set forth; neither do I claim the exclusive
use of any of the articles herein named when taken or used separately, or not
in combination for the purposes of my Invention; but I claim the exclusive
use of the various contrivances which in combination and acted upon as hereiu

page_text: set forth effect the construction of embankments, breakwaters, or other sea
walls.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Manico, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
E. MANICO. (L.S.)