Publisher's Synopsis
This volume is concerned with the development of civil engineering in Britain, from the 16th to the early-19th century. After a new introductory essay, Professor Skempton looks at the engineers themselves, their careers, and their emergence as a recognised profession. Two articles deal in particular with John Smeaton, æthe greatest engineer of his timeÆ, and the Smeatonian Society; others are concerned with the builders of river navigations, docks and harbours and fen drainage schemes. This theme is continued in the second part, which concentrates on the engineering of these works, for instance, the Thames navigation, and the London docks. It also includes two studies on key developments in the structure of multi-storey mills.
