JESSOP, William & WHITE, William Design for improving the harbour of Bristol London, W.Faden (engraver) 1803 (but issued c.1806)
Large folding engraved plan, 46.5 x 110cm (within plate marks). Contemporary ms endorsement, “Bristol Harbour”, on the back. Edges of sheet slightly dog-eared. Skempton No.779. “The position enjoyed by Bristol as a major port in the nineteenth century was due in large part to the very remarkable improvements in dock facilities achieved under Jessop’s direction”, writes A.W.Skempton in his biography of Jessop. Jessop had been involved with Bristol Harbour since 1788 and evolved the scheme that was eventually built, which involved turning the River Avon into a floating harbour. He also constructed a tidal bypass to maintain the regime of the Avon downstream of the harbour. The present splendid plan, showing Jessop’s scheme for building a floating harbour and tidal cut, was originally engraved in April 1803 and deposited in the House of Lords for the first reading of the bill. A second state of the plan appeared in July 1803, now with a street plan of Bristol. This is the third state of the plan and, according to the Skempton entry, was issued in c.1806. It is of particular interest in that it shows the two iron bridges to be built over the tidal cut, envisaged by Jessop almost from the moment the cut had been decided upon, as well as other alterations, as built.
£650
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