The Palace and Park by Phillips, Forbes, Latham, Owen, Scharf, and Shenton

16. Labyrinthodon Pachygnathus.]

Proceeding round the Rosary to the right, we quit the mound at the second outlet, and journey along a path, on either side of which are flower-beds and groups of Rhododendrons and Azaleas. Bearing to the right we reach the basin of a fountain. Choosing the left-hand side of this basin, we turn into the broad walk which leads us by means of a flight of steps to the second terrace, crossing which we make our way by the steps to the upper terrace. At this point the visitor can either re-enter the Palace under the Central Transept, or by proceeding to the left-hand down the terrace, enter the south wing and pass down the colonnade to the Railway Station. THE CRYSTAL TOWERS. The high towers, of which there are two, one at each end of the building, have been erected for the purpose of raising the tanks from which the high jets of the great fountains in the lower basins are played, and are, with the exception of the tank and stays, constructed of cast iron. The foundation upon which this enormous mass of material rests, is necessarily very strong, and consists, in the first place, of a ring of concrete, sixty feet in external diameter, and three feet deep; upon this is built a circular wall of brick-work, laid in cement, fifty-six feet in diameter, and eighteen feet deep. This forms the bed on which rests the base pieces of the columns. The columns, 1 foot in diameter, and 24 in number, are placed in pairs, 4 feet apart, and are connected together by solid vertical girders or filling-in frames, each pair thus forming one continuous broad column, extending from the base to the bottom of the tank by which the tower is surmounted; the whole rising to a height of 202 feet. The space between each pair of columns (8 feet) is filled in with glazed sashes and face-work, corresponding with those in the building, and completing the shell of the tower. Behind these sashes, and spanning these spaces, extending from floor to floor, are series of round wrought-iron diagonal bracing, continued from the bottom to the top of the tower; and, under each of the ten landing-floors, is a strong horizontal bracing-plate, termed a diaphragm, forming, with the diagonal bracing above referred to, a system of vertical and horizontal trussing. Up the centre of each tower is carried a perpendicular brick shaft (the internal diameter of which is 7 ft. 9 in.), resting upon a separate foundation, and serving the double purpose of carrying off the smoke from the heating apparatus, from the boilers connected with the Machinery Department, the upper engine-house, and kitchen, and forming the core or spiral staircase by which the various floors, and gallery at the top of the tower, are reached. These floors arise at intervals of twenty feet from the level of the floor of the main building. The tank noticed above is of boiler-plate, and is formed of an inner and outer wall, the former of which encircles the chimney-shaft; the bottom, which is dome-shaped, is carried upon wrought-iron girders radiating from the chimney, and is secured to the tops of the external columns. This description will be more readily understood when the depths of the tank at its outer and inner walls are given. The former, or that resting upon the external columns, being 38 feet, while the latter, next the chimney-shaft, is about 26 feet. These tanks are calculated to hold, when filled, a body of water of the enormous weight of 1,576 tons, or a bulk of 57,228 cubic feet, equal to 357,675 gallons. The supply is forced from the upper reservoir by the same engines that raise the water to the lower water-tanks and the building; and the same pipes form also the means of conveying the water to the fountains. They are arranged within the outer columns, forming an interior circle, apparently of columns, but rendering in reality no assistance towards the stability of the structure. On a level with the base of the tank, projecting from the exterior of the tower, and carried on strong and elegant cast-iron brackets, is the gallery six feet in width, from the outer edge of which, on light iron columns, is carried the many-gabled conical Paxton roof which covers the tower. The total height of these stupendous edifices, from the ground line to the top ornaments on the roof, is 284 feet. From the same ground line to the floor of the projecting gallery is 214 feet, involving to the persevering visitor an ascent of no fewer than 400 steps, with only ten landings or rests on the floors previously mentioned. The reward in the prospect afforded will, however, amply repay the toil incurred, embracing as it does an horizon including part of six counties--viz., Middlesex, Kent, Essex, Bedfordshire, and Bucks--and including a panorama possessing, amongst other objects of interest, the Towers of London and Windsor, the woodlands of Essex, and the Downs of Epsom. The vision of the visitor from this height is also lifted over the grand plateau, or ridge, which separates the great lake with its antediluvian animals from the rest of the garden. These magnificent towers, each of which contains 800 tons of iron, were designed by Mr. Brunel. From the above simple statement it will be seen, that the arrangements for supplying the fountains with water are at once simple, complete, and based upon the most economical principles. The engine power employed is that of three hundred and twenty horses; the water itself is conveyed to and from the reservoirs in pipes varying from three feet to one inch in diameter; and the total weight of piping may be set down at 4000 tons, its length, roughly estimated, at ten miles. THE ARTESIAN WELL, AND THE WATER SUPPLY. In July, 1852, the supply of water for the fountains and other great works in connexion with the Crystal Palace, first seriously engaged the attention of the Directors. Various proposals were made, and suggestions offered: some were at once rejected; others, although not free from difficulties, were taken into consideration. The most feasible of these was that which involved the extension to Sydenham of the pipes of one of the nearest London water-work companies,--a measure that would at once secure a sufficient supply of tolerably good water. Against the proposition for sinking a well on the grounds, it was urged that the neighbourhood is almost destitute of water; that wells already excavated to the depth of two hundred feet had yielded but a small supply; and that even if a sufficient supply could be secured by digging, the water obtained could never be raised to the top of the hill. Acting, however, upon sound advice, and after due consideration, the company commenced the sinking of an artesian well at the foot of the hill on which the Palace stands, and after proceeding to a depth of 250 feet, their efforts were rewarded. In the present case, the water which appears in the well comes from a reservoir lying between the London clay and the greensand as its upper and lower envelopes. This reservoir is supplied by rain-water, which, percolating the London clay, sand, and chalk, and finding an impediment to its downward progress on reaching the greensand, flows into the space between the hard clay and greensand, as into a cistern. The process by which the reservoir is supplied is continuous, the water finding its way down to it as if by a series of small tubes, and pressing against the lower surface of the clay with a force which, if unresisted, would raise it to the level from which it descended. When the clay is pierced by the augur it is evident that this force is free to act, the resistance of the clay at the point where it is pierced being removed, and accordingly the water rises in the bore to the level from which it is supplied, and will continue to do so as long as the percolation lasts. The chief difficulty to be overcome was the great thickness of the substratum of chalk, which extends, probably, to a depth of about 1000 feet. The well, now completed, is a brick shaft 8¹⁄₂ feet in diameter, 247 feet deep, from whence an Artesian bore descends 328 feet, making the entire depth 575 feet. It is situated at the bottom of the Garden, near the Cricket Ground. An abundant supply of water having been brought to the foot of the hill from the well, and the supplies of a neighbouring water-company, it was necessary not only to raise it to the top, on a level with the building, but also to elevate it to a sufficient height for obtaining the requisite pressure for fountains to throw up water to heights varying from 5 to 280 feet. The following is a brief outline of the arrangements by which these objects are effected:-- Three reservoirs have been formed at different levels in the grounds, the lowest one being on the same level as the largest basins placed nearly at the base of the hill; the second or intermediate reservoir is higher up, and in a line with the basin in the central walk; whilst the third or upper reservoir stands on the top of the hill immediately adjoining the north end of the building. Next to the Artesian Well, an engine is placed which raises the water required to be permanently maintained in the reservoirs and in the basins of the fountains, and which supply or keep up the water that is lost by waste and evaporation. The reservoir on the summit of the hill contains the water required for the use of the building, and for the fountains throughout the grounds. Close to this reservoir is an engine-house, containing the steam-engines that raise part of the water into two large tanks erected on columns at the north end of the building close to the junction of the Sydenham and Dulwich roads. The columns, twenty-four in number, are of hollowed cast-iron, one foot in diameter. The central column, which is two feet in diameter, supporting a portion of the superincumbent weight, and making up the number, twenty-five, is the water-pipe, by which the tank is fed, and which forms also the conduit to the fountains in the building, and on the terraces. These two distinct actions of filling the tank and working the fountains proceed simultaneously through the same pipe. On the top of these columns are massive girders which support the plates, forming the bottom of the tank. The height from the stone curb of the reservoir to the bottom of the tank is 65 feet; the tanks are each 47 feet square by 15 feet deep, and capable of containing 207,000 gallons or about 900 tons of water. They supply also the water required in the building for the plants and kitchens, and charge the pipes provided against casualties from fire. The vast residue of the water in the great upper reservoir, in consequence of the sloping character of the ground, does not need any help from the engines, but flows direct to fountains on a lower level, and plays smaller jets. Through the same convenience, the waste water from the upper fountains is used a second time in the lower fountains. The central or intermediate reservoir collects the waste water from the displays which take place on ordinary days, and which include all the fountains, save the two largest, and the cascades. Attached to this reservoir are also engines which pump the water back to the upper reservoir. The lowest reservoir collects similarly the waste water from the displays which take place in the two largest fountains on the days of great exhibition, and its engines return the water at once to the top level. THE FOUNTAINS. The great system of fountains in the grounds of the Crystal Palace, though the most stupendous that the world has ever seen, is designed with an unity which greatly enhances, or rather fully displays, its unrivalled magnificence. The whole system is divided into two series, the upper and the lower. The upper series, which consists of the six basins adorning the long extent of the second terrace, with the great circular fountain in the centre, and the smaller ones on either side of it, in all, nine fountains, constitutes the display on ordinary occasions. Beyond these, as we advance down the central path, are the iron Water Temples, from which the water rushes down a series of twelve cascades, extending for a distance of 600 feet, till it falls over the stone arcade in the great fountain basins, forming a glittering cataract 120 feet broad, with a fall of thirty feet. The Water Temples with their cascades and falls, and the two great fountains into the basins of which they discharge, constitute the lower series, which is played only on grand occasions; but all are part of one design, and each one ministers to its completeness. Unlike most similar works, sculpture has not been used to enhance or obtain the effect desired. Under any circumstances, water, when thrown high into the air, assumes a graceful and beautiful appearance; no ungentle curves or distortions of form mar its expression of a natural beauty, which, though it may be the roaring grandeur of a mighty stream, or the gentle grace of the smallest jet, bears with it an unspeakable charm. In the Crystal Palace Fountains the designs are carried out by the water alone, and the sculptural ornamentation is confined to the margins of the basins, and, down the sides of the cascades, to some small ornamental bronze fountains of secondary importance. The first six fountains of the upper series which ornament the Italian Garden on the second terrace throw their highest jets to the height of 90 feet, the lower jets form graceful designs round the bases of these columns of water, and in other parts of the basins. It is so arranged that the waste water from these basins is again used for the lowest jets of the fountains which lie between these and the Water Temples, a rapid descent in the ground giving sufficient pressure for this purpose; the same is the case with the water flowing from these again, as it is once more used for the lower water designs in the great basins. The great circular fountain, which occupies the central position below the terraces, is the principal one of the upper series. Its highest columns, which rise in an imposing mass from a gigantic cradle formed by the water, attain the altitude of 150 feet. Rising from the surface around this, are single upright streams which beautifully fill in the design, throwing their spray to almost an equal height. The whole is surrounded by a delicate trellis of water, in which the jets appear to interlace with one another. On the right and left of this, but in lower positions, are two smaller circular fountains of great beauty, which, with those already described, complete the upper series. The largest circular basin is 196 feet in diameter. We now approach the two Water Temples which head the cascades on either side of the broad central walk. These Temples are octagonal in shape, with dome-shaped roofs, and are constructed of ornamental ironwork, gaily coloured and gilded. On the apex of each is a bronze figure, from beneath which the water, which is forced up the hollow columns, bursts in a glittering film till it falls over the roof and down the sides. The Temples are about 60 feet in height. The head or basin which surrounds each one, and from which the water flows down the cascades, is a parallelogram of 72 feet, with semicircular extensions in the two sides of 18 feet radius. Bronze fountains ornament each side of the cascades. The great fountains are the crowning effect of the whole system, and are the largest in the world. The basins, which are designed with a graceful and diversified outline, are 784 feet each in length, having a diameter in the semicircular centre portion of 468 feet. A great central column rises in each, streaming upward to the height of 280 feet when undisturbed by wind. These columns are each composed of 50 two-inch jets, which burst forth under a pressure on the mouth of the pipes of 262 lb. to the square inch. The design is carried out by an infinite variety of water display. The effect is gained by the water alone, which assumes many forms, from the giant and stately column, to the most delicate crystal tracery. When the whole system of fountains is displayed, no less than 11,788 jets are in operation, throwing 120,000 gallons per minute. A grand display usually consumes 6,000,000 gallons of water. These stupendous and magnificent works were designed by Sir Joseph Paxton, the engineering operations being executed by Mr. W. Shields, the resident engineer of the Company.