Plate VIII. — Beacon-House
Pl. VIII.
Fig. 1. represents the Beacon-house, which was used as a barrack for the artificers during the working seasons of 1809 and 1810. Letter A A A is the surface of the Rock. The principal legs or beams, with their diagonal supports, radiating from the centre of the plan, are marked a a a a a a, and the bracing chains b b b, as completed in the year 1807. In 1808 the bracing-chains were removed, and the malleable iron-bars marked c c c were substituted. The dotted lines d d d d d, are intended to show the form of the upper or habitable part of the Beacon as it was ultimately finished, with its lantern, for ventilating the barrack-room. One of the figures characterised as sailors, and used for illustrating this elevation, is represented as standing upon the Rock, and laying hold of one of the bracing-chains. The next figure is ascending the trap-ladder, formed with cleats of timber nailed upon one of the principal beams; he is on a level with the mortar-gallery, marked letter e e e. The third figure is standing upon the cross or collar-beams, nearly on a level with the floor of the cook-room, marked f f. The fourth, or highest figure, is standing upon one of the principal beams, with his feet on a level with the top of the windows in the floor of the cabins of the engineer and his assistants marked g g; the head of this figure being within the artificers’ barrack, marked h h. With one hand he is supposed to be touching the provision-chest, marked i, and with the other he is laying hold of the rope for hoisting the copper signal-ball k upon the flag-staff.
Fig. 2. represents the gallery where the mortar-makers and smiths latterly worked. a a a a a a represent the principal beams of the Beacon cut across; b b b the position of the mortar tubs and lime-casks; c the smith’s anvil; d his bellows; e the hearth or fire-place.
Fig. 3. represents the floor of the cook-room, in which a a a a a a shew the principal beams cut across; b the platt or landing at the entrance-door; c c the coboose or cooking-hearth; d the chimney or smoke funnel; e e e e the provision casks; f the trap stair leading to the floor above; g g the small life-boat, suspended by davits from the principal beams of the beacon; i i i i i i the six angular upright posts cut across, marked d in Fig. 1., which form the framing of the hexagonal apartments or floors marked III. and IV. Letter k represents the position of the privy, and stair leading to it.
Fig. 4. is the floor of the cabins of the engineer and his assistants. Letters a a a a a a mark the position of the six principal beams of the beacon, now approaching closely together from their diagonal direction: b b b b b b the angular upright posts, which, together with those marked i i i i i i, as referable to Fig. 3., form the upper apartments into twelve sides; c is the trap-ladder, corresponding with letter f in Fig. 3., which communicates with the cook-room floor below; d is another ladder, leading to the artificers’ barrack above.
Fig. 5. represents the upper floor, or that of the artificers’ barrack-room, on a level with the top of the principal beams, marked a in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. In this diagram a a a a a represent the ground-tier of beds, which were ranged in five heights, excepting at the space over the man-hole, leading up to this apartment, where there was only three heights of beds; c represents the trap ladder answerable to letter d of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6. represents what may be termed a bird’s-eye view of the Beacon, as completed in 1807, and before it was converted into a barrack. In reference to Fig. 1., letter a represents the six principal beams, forming a common base measuring about 35 feet across, including the bracing-chains, which are marked b b b b b b. These beams meet in a point at the top, where they rest upon a block of beechwood, to which the upper ends of the beams were fitted, the whole being girded with strong malleable iron rings or hoops, keyed with spear-bolts. Here the provision-chest i, and signal-ball k, are represented as resting upon the top of the principal beams.
Fig. 7. is an enlarged view of two of the bracing-chains, marked a a, with their tightening shakle marked b b, meeting in the ring c c. Letter d represents one of the batts, which were sunk into the rock A A about 20 inches, and wedged with timber and iron, as shewn at e e.
Fig. 8. represents a side view of one of the beams of the beacon, marked a a a a, cut across immediately above the great stancheons b b b b, with its bolts, which were fitted upon each side of the beam; c c represent the clasp-plates, which embraced each foot of the beacon, with its two stancheons. These clasp-plates were fixed with spear-bolts, as shewn at d d. Letters e e represent the wedging with timber and iron, referred to in Fig. 7.
Fig. 9. represents a front view of a like portion of one of the principal beams, as in Fig. 8.; a a a a shew the stancheons on each side of the beam, and b b the lower extremity of the stancheons sunk into the Rock A; c c one of the clasp-plates; d d d d the spear-bolts.
Fig. 10. is one of the principal beams, a cut across at the clasp-plate c c c c. Letters b b are the great iron-stancheons; and d d d shew the spear-bolts.