Images with transcriptions

The Specification of Works for Providing, Erecting and Maintaining Clevedon Pier in 1867 (Copy) is a fascinating and fragile document which the Archive has been privileged to borrow from its private owner and digitise for the public to be able to see and read. In a mere 13 foolscape pages, it specifies the quality of the wrought iron work, timber, painting and foundations, the quantities of materials with costs, as well as the standards that the contract was to be delivered to and last but, of course, not least details about the all important ‘Modes and Times of Payment.’ It is interesting that 9 pages are taken up with contract conditions and payment details leaving a few precious pages describing how to build the foundations, legs and decking. Below are images and transcriptions of the entire document. If you have any further information or questions pleasure feel free to contact the archivist@clevedonpier.com

Front cover and page 1 – ‘The Contract.’

Transcription of Page 1

Clevedon Pier

Specification for providing, erecting and maintaining.

This Contract comprehends the supply and delivery to the Company of all materials plant tools and machines and the construction of all works of every description whether temporary or permanent which may be necessary for the entire completion of a wrought iron Pier at Clevedon as described by the accompanying Drawings No. 1.2.3.4.5 and 6 respectively. And also the upholding of all the works during their construction. The whole in consideration of the payment of one gross sum and the redelivery to the Contractors of all materials plant tools and machinery upon the works and not forming part of the same. The value of which forms part of the consideration for the performance of this Contract. The whole being subject to the terms and conditions of this Specification and of a Contract deed to be entered into between the Contractor and the Company – the intent and meaning of this Contract being that the Company shall………..continued on page 2……….provide such Lands as are requisite for the site of the permanent works and that the Contractor shall in consideration of the gross sum hereinafter named construct complete and maintain the works in all respects according to the Drawings and Specifications and deliver them to the company in complete and perfect condition.

Specification for Wrought Iron Work and Cast Iron Work

Transcription:

Specification

Wrought Iron Work

Specimens of all Iron work shall be submitted to the Engineers for their approval and the very best quality shall in all cases be used, the Plates being equal to the best Staffordshire boiler plates. The bar angle and T iron being not inferior to the best BB – Merchant bar – All Bolts nuts rivets straps and ties being wrought from Iron not inferior to the best S.C. Crown Iron.

All Ironwork to be submitted to such tests as the Engineers may deem advisable and in no case to be passed if failing with less then 20 tons per square inch tensile strain.

The Joints in all ironwork may be reduced in number and placed further apart if the Contractor desires to do so but all joints must be made with fair Culling (?) surfaces truly filed or planed to contact.

The Barlow rails shall weight 80lbs per yard each for all raking piles.

For all vertical piles the Barlow rail shall weight 70lbs per yard each the two rails forming one pile shall be brought into true contact and riveted together 3/4″ rivets 6″ pitch the joints shall then be caulked and made watertight. The rails shall be of Iron of similar manufacture to that in use on the South West Railway for best Barlow Rails. All the Rods with screwed ends to have the ends swelled to contain the full depth of the threads.

Cast Iron

All Cast Iron to be subject to such tests as the Engineers may approve and to be painted twice at the place of erection and not before the Engineers shall have inspected it.

Timber and Painting Specification

Transcription

Timber

The whole of the timber to be of the best Baltic Pine, Red deal free from unsound knots shakes sap or any other imperfection.  Any timber used below low water line shall be Creosoted with 8 lbs of approved Creosote per Cubic feet of timber.

The timber planking of the Deck shall be of planks not less than 16” x 11” x 3” in each (side?) and shall be laid close so as to be perfectly tight the ends shall be cut to a scarf joint and cross railed.

Each plank shall be secured to its joist with five nails at each crossing thereof the nail being in all cases twice the thickness of the plank board or batten through which it passes.  The whole of the rough timber work to be executed in the best style of rough or Ships Carpentry, that is undressed where not visible but wrought perfectly true at all surfaces which are in contact.

All prominent and visible parts of the timber (except in the fender piles) and wherever the surface is to be painted to be Jack planed or Machine planed.

It is moreover to be distinctly understood that the price given for timbre shall include all nails and spikes and Coach screws which may be required, also all waste timber which may be required for scarfing and joints the dimensions for payment being taken from the Drawings net – The price is also to include all fixing and driving complete.

Painting

The whole of the Wrought Iron to be painted one in Oils before leaving the works.  Also to have a second Coat of approved Colour when fixed.  The Backs of the Seats and also the Seats to be painted twice in Oils of approved Color.

Posting 4: Foundations Spec

In slightly less than 1 and a half foolscap pages the foundations for Clevedon Pier were specified. These instructions were accompanied by drawings which the Archive sadly does not hold. If they exist it would be great to bring the Specification and Drawings together. In the meantime if any civil or marine engineers out there can draw what these words say please contact archivist@clevedonpier.com. Thank you.

Transcription

Foundations

The foundations of each pile in Mud and Clay to be carried out as shown in drawing subject to such alterations as the Engineers may think proper to make. The Wrought iron pile joist shall weight 30 lbs per foot run and shall be driven until it will not move 1/4″ with a blow from a 20 Cwt Monkey falling 10 feet on the rake of 1 in 10 – After it shall have been driving on each side thereof two 9″ piles shall be driven until they do not move more than 1/4″ each with a blow of a 20 Cwt Monkey falling 8 feet. They shall each be shod with a side Shoe of the form shown weighing not less then 18 lbs each. After the three shall have been driven a wrought iron Collar shall be dropped over them and slid down until it is stopped by a Pin – two Iron wedges shall then be dropped into it and driven with a heavy Rod from above. The Barlow Rails shall be firmly secured by plates, strap bolts and otherwise as shown on Drawing, the pile heads being carefully cut above low water mark to receive Cast iron Shoes.

Where the pile is to be secured to the Rock this shall be done by means of a wrought Iron Rod 4″ in diameter which shall be let into the Rock to such depth as the Engineers may deem necessary and secured by wrought iron keys driven in by a blow from a Monkey of 5 Cwt – the whole of the space around the rod being filled in with Iron Cement of the best quality hammered in with a flogging hammer. The whole to be executed to the satisfactions of the Engineers or their Assistant.

General Conditions

The five pages of General Conditions hold a vast array of information about the contract to build Clevedon Pier as well as the engineering specification of works. It includes quantities of materials that have been identified as required for the project as well as a schedule of prices which will be paid for the work and, in summary, that the contractor is responsible for everything! Images of the five pages are shown below and below them is a transcription of their contents.

General Conditions

It is assumed that the quantities of certain of the materials required for the execution of this Contract amount to:

Wrought iron painted twice in Oils delivered at Clevedon on Site of the proposed works to be sent in such lengths as may be divided by the Engineers……………………………………………………………………..348 Tons 2 Cwt 2Grs

Cast Iron painted twice in Oils and delivered at Clevedon and fixed ……………………………………………………………………………6 Tons 9 Cwt

Timber fixed in place complete with fastenings, small scantlings, leats and backs………………………………………………………………..956 C Ft

Large Scantlings ………………………………………………7372 C Ft

Creosoted piles in foundations …………………………….….660 C Ft

And if in the finished state executed in all respects according to the Specification and the Drawings therein referred to or to such further instructions or Drawings as may from time to time be furnished by the Engineers it shall be found that the quantities of these works computed from the Drawings exceed or fall short of the quantities above enumerate, the excess or deficiency shall be paid for or allowed in increase or diminution of the Contract sum as the case may be at the following Schedule namely:

Wrought Iron at rate of £15. 10 per Ton

Cast Iron at rate of …….£9. per Ton

Timber. Small scantlings at 5s/6d per Cubic Foot Joist Fenders and Decking at 3s /3d per Cubic Foot Creosoted Piles at 4/ per Cubic Ft

Fixing Superstructure and providing for all Contingencies and incidental Works £4 per Ton.

The Contractor is to provide copies of the Drawings and Specifications for his own use.

The Contractor shall at his own cost employ on the works during the execution of this Contract a competent person or persons approved by the Engineers to set out and direct the works in detail and the Contractor shall at all times furnish the Engineers with all labour assistance and materials necessary for setting out or measuring the works at his the Contractor’s cost.

The works are to be carried out according to the fair interpretation and meaning of this Specification and Drawings and should there hereafter appear to be any discrepancy between the Scale attached to the Drawing and the written dimensions or between the Drawings and this Specification the terms of this Specification are to be taken in preference to the drawings and written dimensions in the Drawings in preference to dimension by Scale. But should there be any difference of opinion on this point as to the mode of carrying on any work or the quantities or periodical quantities of work to be done or provided by thereof such dispute shall be decided by the Engineer whose decision shall be final and conclusive.

The Contractor in consideration of the payment of the Contract sum is to provide all necessary moorings tackle temporary staging chains crabs lights Matchmen buoys scaffold Derricks lifts slings and everything which may be required for the dur and proper execution and completion of the work. He must satisfy himself as to the nature of the foundation and the sufficiency of the works as specified. He must assume all risks of accidents or damages from any cause and must include the cost of the incidental works necessary for the entire fulfilment of the Contract whether particularly referred to or not in the Specification.

The whole of the works and materials as well as the mode of execution is to be under the entire control supervision and direction of the Engineers Richard James Ward and John William Grover who shall have full power to alter vary enlarge or diminish the quantities of any of the works subject to the conditions hereinafter specified.

Any machinery tools or materials brought on the site of the works or on the adjoining Beach shall immediately thereupon become the absolute property of the Company and the contractor shall have no property therein and no right to use the same except for the purposes of this Contract and as the Agent of the Company but if the works be duly completed or if during the progress of the works it shall appear to the Engineers that any portions of the plant are not required for the further progress of the works the Company will deliver such plant or such portions of it to the Contractors as part of the consideration for the performance of the Contract.

If the Contractor should not proceed with sufficient expedition in the performance of the works or not execute the same in compliance with the terms of this Specification or become Insolvent or be declared Bankrupt it shall be in the power of the Company to take the works wholly or in part out of his hands and to complete the same at his cost in all respects.

Modes and Times of Payment

Transcription

Modes and Times of Payment

If the works be completed and certified by the Engineers as being completed according to the Drawings and Specifications on or before the 1^st day of March 1868 then the Company will pay to the Contractors in the manner hereinafter specified the sum of £8,500 for the performance of his Contract subject to the deduction or allowances hereinbefore provided for.

If the works be completed as above on or before the 1^st April but subsequently to the 1^st March then the Company will pay to the Contractor the sum of £8.400 for the performance of his Contract subject to the deductions or allowances hereinbefore provided for.

If the works be not completed as above until after the 1^st of April 1868 then the Company will pay to the Contractor for the performance of his part of the Contract such a sum as the Engineers certify to be fairly due to him in accordance with these presents.  Calculating the same on the basis of deducting £20 for each week’s delay after the 1^st April.  All payments to the Contract under this Contract shall be made in the following manner viz 84 per cent in Cash and 16 per cent in Shares bearing preferential interest at the rate of £5 per Cent per annum such interest commencing from the date of the Engineers final Certificate being given.

The Company are to have the option of substituting Cash wholly or in part for shares and in the event of their electing so to do the amount of Cash to be paid in lieu of shares is to be calculated in the proportion of £80 Cash to £100 Shares.  Any payment of Shares which may be made under this Contract during the progress of the works shall be satisfied by a letter from the Directors of the company undertaking to deliver proper Certificates for the same upon the completion of the Contract.  Such undertaking being subject to the exercise of the Company’s right at any time within 3 months after the Engineers final Certificate shall have been given to substitute Cash for Shares on the terms above specified.

The whole of the works herein specified and everything incident to or contingent thereon are comprised in and will be paid for by the gross sum defined above in addition to the plant and materials remaining on the works which sum subject to all the payments and deductions which by any of the terms of this Specification are to be made shall become due only after the entire completion of the Contract and Certificate of the Engineer but during the progress of the works advances or payments on account will be made to the Contractor from time to time as hereinafter mentioned – such payments however in no way to affect any question in the ultimate settlement of the Account or to be considered as proof or admission of any particular work or amount of work having been executed, but once in each month or as near thereto as the state of the works and the reasonable convenience of the Company’s Engineers will admit.  The works executed within that period and any materials brought to the works and in the opinion of the Engineers necessary for the immediate progress of the same will be measured or estimated by the Engineer unless periods of measurement and payments to be agreed upon between the Company and the Contract and the Contractor will be paid on account of the Contract sum such amount as the Engineer may recommend (it being intended but not stipulated) that such advances or payments on account should be equal to about 90 per cent of the cost as estimated by the Engineers according to the total Contract sum and the work duly executed during such month or executed in addition to the works on which the previous estimates may have been made subject however to any deduction on account of ascertained damages or otherwise for which the Contractor may render himself liable and such payment to be made within 7 days of the date of the Engineers recommendation above referred to the remaining 10 per cent will be retained by the Company until the completion of the works at which time and as a condition precedent upon a Certificate in writing being given by the Engineers that the Contractor has duly performed his Contract and upon the Contractor giving a sufficient release to the Company of all claims under or in respect of anything connected with the Contract the residue shall be paid to him.

Dated this Thirtieth day of May 1867

(Signed)

Hamilton Windsor Iron Works Limited

LHLouttit   Secretary