Page:Walker (1888) The Severn Tunnel.djvu/90

Rh had been built opposite the pumping-pit, and in it had been fixed a 70-inch Cornish beam-engine. A horizontal engine had also been fixed at the pumping-pit with two 15-inch bucket-pumps, and these pumps started work on the 1st November.

The fixing of the larger pumps in the pit, which were 28-inch bucket-pumps, was also pushed forward, and the engine with the one 28-inch bucket-pump was started on the 15th November, and continued steadily to work till the 18th December; by which date the second 28-inch pump had been completed, and the engine was then started working the two 28-inch pumps.

On the 31st May permission was given to start the tunnel-works on the Sea-Wall side of the river, and the mining for the shaft-length was commenced on the 22nd June.

As there was a prospect now of getting a strong force to work at various points, it became necessary to arrange the dwelling-houses for the men.

On the 9th March I arranged with the owner of the land, Mr. C. E. Lewis, of St. Pierre, to take on lease for a period of six years a plot of land near the main shaft at Sudbrook, on which to erect cottages. I had also for some time been experimenting with the various clays and marls in the neighbourhood, with a view to making bricks, and, the experiments proving successful, I decided early in the year to construct a brickyard of considerable extent near the 5 mile 4 chains pit. On account of the season it