3-011-378 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Blowing up the Eastern Arch of the Great Exhibition Building, [South Kensington, London], 1864. Demolition of an '...arch which supported the eastern gable end of the nave of the International Exhibition building. The arch was of brickwork, in Portland cement, semicircular in form; the span 59 ft...To have demolished this arch in the ordinary way would have necessitated the use of extensive scaffolding...It was therefore suggested that it would form a good experiment for the Royal Engineers. Mr. Freake, who has bought the materials of the building, and is pulling it down, willingly agreed to the proposal, and...a party of sappers...commenced work by boring four holes in each haunch of the arch to receive small charges of powder...The total amount of powder used was 19 lb...the part of the Exhibition-road in front of the arch having been cleared by the police in case of accident, the officer in charge of the party fired the charges simultaneously by means of an electric machine. The effect was very satisfactory, the haunches of the arch were broken and slightly pushed out, the crown opened, and the parts fell together, separating into several pieces in their fall'. From "Illustrated London News", 1864.