1818 – James Anderson’s Chain Bridge

The Scotsman 5th Sept 1818 carried the following advertisement

CHAIN BRIDGE FOR QUEENSFERRY
This day are published,
AN ENGRAVING AND REPORT
relative to a
DESIGN FOR A CHAIN BRIDGE,
proposed to be thrown over the
FRITH OF FORTH AT QUEENSFERRY.
By JAMES ANDERSON
Civil Engineer and Land-surveyor, Edinburgh
Engraving 2 feet 5 inches by 1 foot 10 inches.
Price, proof impressions £1.10s – common copies £1.1s.
Report, 5s.
Sold by Archibald Constable & Co. Edinburgh.
Copies of the Engraving and Report may also be had of the
Engineer, at his house, No.90. Prince’s Street.

The Engraving contains two Elevations or Designs, and a Perspective View of the Bridge and Landscape of the Frith, a Ground Plan of the Bridge and Plan of the Frith, with the present landing places and adjoining coasts etc, and other Figures illustrative of the different parts of the Structure, making in all Twenty-two Drawings

Here is a copy of the Chain Bridge Report and Engraving

Anderson’s Chain Bridge Engraving

Anderson’s Chain Bridge Perspective View

Anderson’s Chain Bridge Longitude View of Design 1

Anderson’s Chain Bridge Longitude View of Design 2

Anderson’s Chain Bridge Sections and Pier Design

Anderson’s Chain Bridge Plan View and route

The design was for a suspension bridge with the suspension cables anchored in underground chambers.

One version had vertical suspenders from catenary suspension cables – anticipating the eventual design of the The Forth Road Bridge.

Catenary cable Design

The second version was a cable-stayed design like the The Queensferry Crossing

Cable-stayed Design

However both version were fatally flawed. The cable-supporting piers were too short and this placed enormous tension on the cables, which in turn were too slender. The cables would have snapped under their own weight.

The elegant design was over-ambitious for the technology of the time.

Advantages of a bridge

Anderson’s report includes this section . . .

Sketch of the Advantages that will arise-from such an Undertaking.

The erection of a bridge across the Forth, at Queensferry, is a projection that everyone who is acquainted with the Situation, must consider as a work of the greatest utility, indeed of the first National and Commercial advantage that this part of the Kingdom will admit of. This must be universally acknowledged by those who know its relative Situation as to High Roads, and that it is the Principal Opening or Great Road to the North of Scotland; likewise, that it would be the only communication by mean of a Bridge over the Forth between its mouth (which may be said to commence at Dunbar) and Stirling, a distance of about 60 miles. On looking at a Map of Scotland, and tracing out the High roads, and their destinations, the great importance of such an undertaking: will readily appear to everyone.

The present Road will be much benefited and improved on both sides of the Forth, by the proposed Bridge. It will avoid the Great Fall on the South Shore down to Newhalls Inn, and shorten the Road about 250 Yards. It will also do away the Pull on the North Shore, and cut off about three quarters of a Mile from the length of the Road. These are by no means slight considerations. . This Bridge would also secure the Mails from ever being interrupted, which, notwithstanding the great improvements of the Passage, happens occasionally for many hours, during stormy weather; besides obviating the danger to the lives of the Passengers, and lessening the difficulties of conveyance.

Considered in a Military point of view, and in cases of necessity, when Troops might be speedily required in the North, this proposed Bridge would be of the greatest .advantage. The communication between Edinburgh and Perth, by the Bridge of Stirling, will bear no comparison when the time occupied in that circuitous route is taken into view; and as the Passage of the Ferry, (besides the accidental delay that may take place during a storm,) even at the best, is very inconvenient, from the great trouble and danger attending the Embarkation of Cavalry and Artillery Horses, the proposed Bridge would obviously be of the greatest use and benefit in cases of emergency.

It cannot admit of a doubt, that, in every country, Inland Communication is.in the greatest degree. facilitated by means-of Bridges; and in this case, .the Populous, and Manufacturing Districts in the Shire of Fife and Kinross, .particularly Dunfermline, Inverkeithing, &c. and the .Proprietors and Tenants of Land in these Counties, will reap advantages by having a ready access to the Market of Edinburgh for their commodities, which will place them in a far superior situation in every respect to that in which they stand at present: But, as the Reporter has already noticed, every person who is acquainted with the nature of the subject must at once be satisfied of the great and manifold advantages which would be derived to the Country in general, if the Plan were carried into effect He considers it quite unnecessary, at present, to enlarge farther on the subject.