NoVEL AND ARTISTIC BRICKS OR "LUMPS" FOR THE RECEPTION, GROWTH, AND PROPAGATION OF FERNS, MOSSES, AND OTHER PLANTS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Churchill Watson, of the City of Chester,
Physician, for the Invention of "NoVEL AND ARTISTIC BRICKS OR "LUMPS"
FOR THE RECEPTION, GROWTH, AND PROPAGATION OF FERNS, MOSSES, AND OTHER
PLANTS."
Sealed the 8th June 1860, and dated the 12th December 1859..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Churchill Watson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th December 1859.
I, GEORGE CHURCHILL WATSON, of the City of Chester, Physician, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "NOVEL AND ARTISTIC BRICKS OR
"LUMPS" FOR THE RECEPTION, GROWTH, AND PROPOGATION OF FERNS, MOSSES, AND
OTHER PLANTS," to be as follows (that is to say):-
This Invention consists in forming bricks or "lumps" which may be used
in building walls, columns, pillars, and other structures with recesses or
pockets formed therein for the reception of soil and so forth to receive the
plants, and which recesses are formed with one or more perforations or pas
sages, by preference opening out at the back of the bricks or "lumps" for the
purpose of drainage or irrigation. It is prefered to form the pockets or
recesses in the face of the bricks or "lumps" with shell or other suitably
shaped projecting lips, so as to form a basin for the reception of the soil and
roots of the plants. These improved bricks or "lumps" may be formed with

page_text: square vertical sides, or bevilled to any required angle so as to form hexagon,
octagon, or other polygon sided pillars or columns. The outer surface can be
formed flat or circular, and may be either plain or ornamental. And these
improved bricks or lumps" may be formed from clay or other plastic
material, and baked or fired in one piece, or they may be formed of two or
more pieces, and used in combination to produce the same result. These
improved bricks or lumps are prefered to be of such size or sizes (say, for
instance, 9 inches by 9 inches, or any other relative size), so as to admit of
their being readily used in combination with common building bricks.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Churchill Watson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th June 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
CHURCHILL WATSON, of the City of Chester, Physician, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me
the said George Churchill Watson, Her special licence that I, the said
George Churchill Watson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said George Churchill Watson, 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 Inven-
tion for "NOVEL AND ARTISTIC "BRICKS" OR "LUMPS" FOR THE RECEPTION,
GROWTH, AND PROPAGATION OF FERNS, MOSSES, AND OTHER PLANTS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Churchill Watson, 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 per-
formed, 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 George Churchill Watson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):-
This my said Invention consists in the construction and use of "bricks" or
"Lumps," having recesses or pockets formed therein, for containing soil and
so forth, for the reception, growth, and propagation of ferns, mosses, and other
plants. I construct these my improved "bricks" or "lumps" in such a way
that they may be used wholely or partially, in the construction of walls,
columns, fountains, pillars, or other like structures. These recesses or pockets
I form with one or more perforations or passages (by preference) opening out
at the back of the "bricks" or "lumps," for the purpose of drainage or irri-
gation; and I prefer to form the pockets, or recesses, in the face of the
"bricks" or "lumps," with shell or other suitably shaped projecting lips, so
as to form a basin partially within, and partially beyond the vertical surface
of the "brick" or "lump" for containing the soil and roots of the plant.
These improved "bricks or "lumps," I form with square vertical sides, or
beveled to any required angle, that they may be conveniently used in the
formation of hexagonal, octagonal, or other polygonal sided pillars or
colunins. The outer surface can be formed flat or circular, and may be either
plain or ornamented. I construct my improved "bricks" or "lumps" from
clay or other plastic material, and bake or fire them in one piece, or they
may be formed of two or more pieces which may be jointed together, and used
in combination to produce the same result. My improved "bricks" or
"lumps," I prefer to make of such size or sizes, say, for instance, nine inches
by nine inches, or any other relative size, so as to admit of their being readily
used in combination with common building bricks.
That this my said Invention may be the more readily seen and understood,
I have hereunto annexed Drawings in partial illustration of the same.
Like
letters marked thereon having reference to similar parts.
.
Figure 1 is a front view of one modification of my improved pocketed
"brick " or "lump" Figure 2 is a back view; Figure 3, a side view; and
Figure 4, a top view or plan of the same.
It will be observed from these Drawings, that I have removed from the
back of the lump a considerable amount of superfluous material, for the pur-
pose of renducing the weight of the "brick," as well as giving it such a form
that it may be the more readily fired or baked.
Figure 5 shows the application of my improved fern brick in the construc-
tion of an ornamental hexagonal pillar, which is shown constructed with slabs,
or flat pieces of the same material, between each tier of bricks, and sur-

page_text: mounted with a capital and vase, formed of the same or other suitable
material.
A, the improved pocketed brick, which may be formed in one or more
pieces; B, the shell shaped projecting lip, which in combination with the
bottom of the recess in the "lump," forms the basin for containing the soil
and plant; C, hole for drainage or irrigation; D, (Figure 5), slabs of burnt
clay or other suitable substance introduced between each tier of the "lumps";
E, (Figure 5), the capital of the pillar, which is formed in one or more pieces
as may be found most convenient; F, (Figure 5), a porous vase, surmounting
the ornamental pillar.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
sion, and how the same may be performed, I wish it to be understood that
I do not confine myself to the precise forms, sizes, or relative dimentions
herein-before described and set forth, but what I do claim is, the construction,
use, and application of the artistic "bricks" or "lumps" herein-before
described, for the purposes and in the manner herein-before set forth, or any
mere modification of the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Churchill Watson, have here-
unto set my hand and affixed my seal, this Ninth day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
GEORGE CHURCHILL (L.S.) WATSON, M. D.
WILLIAM WALKER,
of 44, Castle Street, Liverpool.