IMPROVEMENTS IN PAVING ROADS AND OTHER SURFACES
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Smith, of 2, Little Canterbury Place,
Lambeth Walk, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PAVING ROADS AND OTHER SURFACES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Smith at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 6th December 1852.
I, JAMES SMITH, of 2, Little Canterbury Place, Lambeth Walk, in
the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAVING ROADS AND OTHER SURFACES" to
be as follows: _
This Invention consists of employing two series of blocks of stone
or other suitable materials, each block being in the form of an
obtuse wedge; one series of such blocks is placed with their broader
sides downwards, and the other are placed with their narrower
sides downwards, by which there is a constant tendency to wedge
all parts of the paving securely together.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 4th June 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JAMES SMITH, of 2, Little Canterbury Place, Lambeth Walk, in the
County of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said James Smith, Her special
licence that I, the said James Smith, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Smith, 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PAVING ROADS AND OTHER SURFACES," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said James Smith, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, 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 im-
mediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Smith, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
This Invention consists of employing two series of blocks of stones
or other suitable materials, each block being in the form of an
obtuse wedge. One series of such blocks is placed with their broader
sides downwards, and the other are placed with their narrow sides
downwards, by which there is a constant tendency to wedge all

page_text: parts of the paving securely together. And in order that my In-
vention may be most fully understood, and readily carried into
effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING,
which shows an edge view of six blocks of stone, or of other suit-
able material, as they would be pitched or laid across a road or way.
The under surface having been properly prepared, and a good
foundation first made, the stones or blocks of material a and b, are
to be placed in succession, and on the two sides of the road or way.
The paving should be strong, and suitable to resist the pressure con-
sequent on the effect which will follow the driving down of the
wedge formed blocks a and b.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that I
do not confine myself to the particular sizes and proportions of
the blocks, as they may be varied without departing from my In-
vention. But what I claim is, the use of blocks of stone or other
suitable material of the wedge form, and in the manner above ex-
plained.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Smith, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this First day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness,
JNO. ALCOCK.
JAMES SMITH. (L.S.)