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Document 66, p 4

134 (4)
Sir Walter Blackett being unwilling to reingage in the
Reerection of this Bridge, and the Utility being fully proved in the
time of its duration, though short; the Magistrates themselves were
then induced to commence Undertakers in this Business; and for
this purpose: (conceiving much Difficulty) engaged an eminent
Engineer Mr John Wooler, who in Confidence of Borings made by
a Surveyor, whom the Magistrates had employed for that purpose,
formed a Design for building a Bridge about 50 Yards below
the former Scite: And accordingly the North Land-[breast?], or Abutment
thereof was completed in or about the Year 1774; after which, that
the Work might be the more ably carried into Execution, Mr
Jonathan Pickernell, an experienced Workman, or Foreman was
engaged and brought down from London by Mr Wooler to act
under him; and as such was engaged by the Magistrates; who on
digging out the Foundation for the first Pier in or about the Year
1775, at the depth of four feet below the Bed of the River, instead of
meeting with a Bed of Clay, as reported by the Person employed to
bore as aforesaid, found a Quicksand of so bad a Nature*, that being
viewed by Mr Wooler, and tried in the presence of some of the Magis-
trates, he, Mr Wooler declined the further Execution of the Undertaking
on the Consideration of its being impracticable, except at such Expenses
as were likely to be far beyond the Ability of the County Funds.
The Magistrates however did not ever yet give up the pursuit
of a Bridge, and not only Advertisements were continued in the public
4 weekly

Note: Mr Smeaton's Replies to Interrogatories p 4

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Transcribed by CTW and RMS