Lives of the Engineers : With an Account of their Principal Works; Comprising Also a History of Inland Communication in Britain (Paperback)

Preface; Part I. Early Works of Embanking and Draining: 1. Ancient British earthworks; 2. Water the chief element; 3. Cornelius Vermuyden; 4. Vermuyden undertakes to drain the Great Level of the Fens; 5. Breaches in the Thames Embankment; Part II. Life of Sir Hugh Myddleton: 1. Water supply of London in early times; 2. The Myddleton family in north Wales; 3. Myddleton elected representative of Denbigh in Parliament; 4. Method of constructing the New River works; 5. Brading Haven; 6. Sir High enters upon his mining enterprise in Wales; Part III. Early Roads and Modes of Travelling: 1. Uses and influence of roads; 2. Ordinary modes of conveyance in early times; 3. Influence of roads on manners and customs; 4. Improvements in travelling; 5. Memoir of John Metcalf; Part IV. Bridges, Harbours and Roads: 1. Old fords; 2. Thames ferry between London and Southwark; 3. Memoir of William Edwards; 4. Insignificant character of the English navy in early times; 5. Inland navigation; Part V. Life of James Brindley: 1. Brindley's native district; 2. Begins business as a wheelwright; 3. Lancashire navigations; 4. The Duke's first canal acts; 5. Brindley surveys an extension of the Duke's canal; 6. Brindley constructs the Duke's canal to Runcorn; 7. The Duke of Bridgewater's pecuniary difficulties; 8. The Grand Trunk Canal; 9. Brindley's opinion as to the use of rivers; 10. Brindley's domestic life; Index.