The Craftsman Series: The Bell Rock Lighthouse de Robert Stevenson

The Craftsman Series: The Bell Rock Lighthouse

Robert Stevenson

A. F. Collins

en Limba Engleză Paperback – 16 ian 2013

Originally published in 1931, this book formed part of The Craftsman Series, which aimed to give secondary school age children an insight into 'the development of constructive activities in the sphere of material things'. The text is comprised of extracts from An Account of the Bell Rock Lighthouse (1824) by Robert Stevenson (1772–1850), a renowned Scottish civil engineer who specialised in the design and construction of lighthouses. Extracts were selected with the intention of providing an absorbing account of Stevenson's most notable project and joined together to form a continuous narrative. The text also contains an editorial introduction, glossary and notes. This is a highly readable book that will be of value to anyone with an interest in civil engineering, lighthouses and books for schools.

Citește tot Restrânge

Cuprins

Editor's preface; Introduction; Glossary; Part I. The Bell Rock: 1. Situation and character of the Bell Rock. Proposal for a lighthouse to be erected. The floating-light prepared and moored; Part II. Operations of 1807: 2. The Smeaton built and launched. A preliminary trip to the rock. Selection of artificers. The working party sails to the rock; 3. Preparations for the beacon. The smith at work on the rock; 4. The artificiers transfer to the floating-light. The first week-end afloat; 5. The foundation-pit begun. Trial stones landed on the rock; 6. The Smeaton goes adrift. Thirty-two men marooned on the rock. A timely rescue; 7. Rough weather. Riding out the gale on the floating-light. A terrifying experience; 8. Work resumed at the rock. The derrick erected; 9. The principal beams of the beacon are set up. Rough weather delays the work; 10. The forge moved to the beacon. Another gale. Work finished at the rock for the season. Preparations ashore for next year's work; Part III. Operations of 1808: 11. Preparations for landing the stones at the rock. The masons at work ashore. The rock visited. All well after the winter; 12. The season's work begun at the rock. The mortar gallery erected. Busy times at the rock; 13. Appearance of the works. The foundation-stone landed and laid. The foundation-course completed; 14. The second and third courses laid. A seaman is drowned. The laying of the fourth course finishes the work of the season; 15. The third season's building begun. The beacon-house prepared. Eleven men left to the beacon during heavy weather. Their rescue; 16. Bad weather continues for five days. First trip of the Patriot. The mortar-makers. The rope ladder fixed; 17. An accident to the crane. Michael Wishart injured. The building stands above high-water for the first time. The artificers lodge in the beacon-house; 18. Embargo upon shipping. The thirteenth course completed in haste. Special facilities given to Bell Rock shipping. Rough times at the beacon. Laying of twenty-fourth course completes the solid part of the building. Work ended for the season; Part IV. Operations of 1810: 19. The wooden bridge erected. The masons sail for the rock. Condition of the beacon-house after the winter; 20. The balance-crane landed and erected. Rough water delays the work. Prayers read on the lighthouse for the first time. The door lintel landed and laid; 21. Progress ashore. Store-room floor completed. First letter dated from the lighthouse. Heavy seas break on the building. Wet weather; 22. Discontent among the seamen. Two men dismissed the service. Heavy weather damages the beacon. The writer's cabin. Last cargo of stones loaded at Arbroath; 23. The last principal stone loaded at Leith. Completion of the masonry. Condition of the artificers. They leave the rock; 24. The tender goes adrift in a gale. Condition of party left at the rock. More damage to the beacon. A fatal accident; 25. The light-room completed and glazed. A difficult landing. Final inspection of lighthouse and beacon. Light-keepers left at the rock. Apparatus of the light fitted up; Part V. Events of 1811 to 1823: 26. The light exhibited for the first time. Appearance of the lighthouse in a gale. The daily signal. Lightning conductor fixed. The lighthouse painted. Use of carrier pigeons; Index.

Notă biografică

Dr Robert Stevenson is a consultant historian who served in the Australian Regular Army before joining the staff at the University of New South Wales, Canberra, and later working with the Official History project at the Australian War Memorial. His doctoral thesis was a joint winner of the Australian Army History Unit's CEW Bean Prize in 2011. His most recent major publication, The War with Germany, was published as part of The Centenary History of Australia and the Great War and was shortlisted for the Australian History Prize in the Prime Minister's Literary Awards for 2016.