Monster Swing-Bridge At Brest

Monster swing-bridge at Brest, [northern France], 1861. Brest, '...at the end of a great promontory stretching out into the Atlantic between the Channel and the Bay of Biscay is...advantageously placed for a naval arsenal...Its roadstead...is formed by a natural inclosure of hills...forming a shelter for the navies of France. Its narrow opening is protected...with forts and batteries...threatening all intruders like the open jaws of a shark. A winding creek, the Penfeld...contains the dockyard and town of Brest. Along its shores lie the great workshops, dock basins, seamen's barracks, furnaces, smithies, &c... hitherto, the town of Brest on the left bank was accessible from the suburb La Recouvrance on the right only by ferry-boats. To remedy this inconvenience, and not to interrupt the passage of great-masted ships of war up and down the creek, the great iron swing-bridge...was constructed...The width between the buttresses is no less than 347ft., and its height above the walls is 65ft. It opens in the centre to allow ships to pass, each valve turning on a colossal pier of granite, moved by ingenious machinery, held in place by a counterpoise of ironwork, on the land side of the pier. The engineer is M. Oudry, of the "Ponts et Chaussées".' From "Illustrated London News", 1861. Creator: Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images)
Monster swing-bridge at Brest, [northern France], 1861. Brest, '...at the end of a great promontory stretching out into the Atlantic between the Channel and the Bay of Biscay is...advantageously placed for a naval arsenal...Its roadstead...is formed by a natural inclosure of hills...forming a shelter for the navies of France. Its narrow opening is protected...with forts and batteries...threatening all intruders like the open jaws of a shark. A winding creek, the Penfeld...contains the dockyard and town of Brest. Along its shores lie the great workshops, dock basins, seamen's barracks, furnaces, smithies, &c... hitherto, the town of Brest on the left bank was accessible from the suburb La Recouvrance on the right only by ferry-boats. To remedy this inconvenience, and not to interrupt the passage of great-masted ships of war up and down the creek, the great iron swing-bridge...was constructed...The width between the buttresses is no less than 347ft., and its height above the walls is 65ft. It opens in the centre to allow ships to pass, each valve turning on a colossal pier of granite, moved by ingenious machinery, held in place by a counterpoise of ironwork, on the land side of the pier. The engineer is M. Oudry, of the "Ponts et Chaussées".' From "Illustrated London News", 1861. Creator: Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images)
Monster Swing-Bridge At Brest
PURCHASE A LICENCE
How can I use this image?
£275.00
GBP
Getty ImagesMonster Swing-Bridge At Brest, News PhotoMonster Swing-Bridge At Brest, News PhotoMonster Swing-Bridge At Brest Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty ImagesProduct #:1942016159
£375£150
Getty Images
In stock
Please note: images depicting historical events may contain themes, or have descriptions, that do not reflect current understanding. They are provided in a historical context. Learn more.

DETAILS

Restrictions:
Contact your local office for all commercial or promotional uses.
Credit:
Heritage Images / Contributor
Editorial #:
1942016159
Collection:
Hulton Archive
Date created:
01 January, 1861
Upload date:
Licence type:
Release info:
Not released. More information
Source:
Hulton Archive
Object name:
3003848
Max file size:
5471 x 3762 px (46.32 x 31.85 cm) - 300 dpi - 13 MB