IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEA WALLS AND BREAKWATERS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Prideaux, of Sheffield, in the County
of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF SEA WALLS AND BREAKWATERS."
Sealed the 11th May 1869, and dated the 24th November 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Prideaux at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 24th November 1868.
I, THOMAS PRIDEAUX, of Sheffield, in the County of York, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SEA WALLS AND BREAKWATERS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of iron framing for a casing or cage, and is
filled in with rubble stone or any other suitable material, the outside
towards the sea being faced with concrete. This iron casing or cage is
constructed with vertical wrought-iron rods (or cast iron) about one
foot apart, and drilled through horizontal bars at such distances apart
as may best suit each individual design, the front and back of the
cage are connected by intersecting wire rods secured to the horizontal.
Should stone not be available burnt clay or any other hard mineral

page_text: substance can be employed in the filling for the formation of this
structure.
The principle of my Invention is to facilitate the enclosure of land
from the sea with great economy and expedition.
The present system of earth embankments has been found hitherto
very defective.
The objects of this Invention are greater economy than any other
works ever applied for such a purpose; simplicity of construction, as any
ordinary labourers could build the same, and offering a greater resistance
to the wash of the sea..
The foundation is formed at a sufficient depth as may be required,
and tie rods across to hold the front and back from moving, I then fill
in with rubble stone and concrete; this forms the anchorage.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Prideaux in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 24th May 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
PRIDEAUX, of Sheffield, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give.
and grant unto me, the said Thomas Priedeaux, Her special licence that
I, the said Thomas Prideaux, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Thomas Prideaux, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SEA WALLS AND BREAKWATERS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Thomas Prideaux, my exccutors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature

page_text: 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 Thomas Prideaux, do hereby 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 :-
In order that this Invention may be properly understood reference
is made to the accompanying Drawings.
My Invention consists of iron framing for a casing or cage, and is
filled in with rubble stone or any other suitable material, the outside
towards sea being faced with concrete. The iron casing or cage is
constructed with vertical iron rods (or cast iron.)
Figures 1, 2, and 3, A, A, about one foot apart and drilled through
horizontal bars B, B, Figure 2, at such distance apart as may best suit
each individual design. The front and back of the cage are connected by
intersecting wire rods, Figure 1, C, C, Figures 1 and 3 secured to the
horizontal. Should stone not be available burnt clay or any other
hard material substance can be employed in the filling for the
formation of this structure.
The principle of my Invention is to facilitate the enclosure of land
from the sea with great economy and expedition.
The present system of earth embankments has been found hitherto
very defective.
The objects of this Invention are greater economy than any other
works ever applied for such a purpose; simplicity of construction, as
any ordinary labourers could build the same, and offering a greater
resistance to the wash of the sea.
The foundation is formed at a sufficient depth as may be required,
and tie rods across D, D, to hold the front and back from moving, I
then fill it with rubble stone and concrete; this forms the anchorage.
If in case wood is more convenient and cheaper than iron, I propose
to carry out my Invention of wood piles finished outside (seaward)
either with or without concrete facing, as shewn on the Drawings. The
wood can be used as ordinary pile driving, or a foundation being sunk

page_text: and tied together by cross timber and filled in with stone as described.
Fir poles will be found well adapted for the purpose in place of iron.
In Figure 5 is shown in section a modification of the foregoing
arrangement and intended for deep water. The ground is simply
levelled by divers, and the iron sleepers E are laid having holes drilled
to receive the perpendicular framing F; they are then bolted and made
secure by the rods G, as shown, at sufficient distances apart; the frame-
work thus formed is filled in with rubble stone; another length of
framing of proportionate strength is fitted a little above low-water mark,
consisting of perpendicular bars and diagonal ties as before described
and as shown; this framing being fixed, stone and concrete is fitted
in, which when finished forms one solid mass faced with concrete, and
this facing effectually protects the iron framing from the action of the
salt water; the framing itself forms a key for the concrete.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Prideaux, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
THOMAS PRIDEAUX. (L.S.)