Henry Beighton
Encyclopedia
Henry Beighton was an English engineer and surveyor.
He was born at Chilvers Coton near Nuneaton
, Warwickshire
and worked in the neighbouring village of Griff
. In 1717, he published an engraving of the Newcomen engine erected there in 1714 by Thomas Newcomen
. In 1718 he erected one at Oxclose colliery at Washington, County Durham
. By measuring the work done by the Griff engine, he was able to publish a table of quantity of water that could be raised by an engine with a six-foot stroke working at 16 strokes per minute.
On his return to his native county he made a plane table
and prepared a map of the county, which was published in 1728 at a scale of one inch to one mile.
He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society
in 1720 and contributed four papers to the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
, including a description of his plane table, and of George Sorocold
's waterworks at London Bridge
.
His interest in the working of the Griff engine brought him into contact with J. T. Desaguliers
and contributed details and illustrations of hydraulic machines for the second volume of the latter's Course of Experimental Philosophy, eventually published in 1744. This included a description by Beighton of an overshot mill, with an engraving of a corn mill by the abbey in Nuneaton. This is the earliest illustration of a mill where a single waterwheel drove more than one set of machinery.
His outstanding county map of Warwickshire was one of the first soundly based on triginometrical survey methods. A remarkably wide range of features is depicted on the map, reflecting the whole life and economy of the county: Parish churches, chapels, depopulated places, seats of nobility, chases, parks, king's houses, monasteries, castles, Roman ways, etc. Beighton's map was well ahead of its time. 3
He was born at Chilvers Coton near Nuneaton
Nuneaton
Nuneaton is the largest town in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth and in the English county of Warwickshire.Nuneaton is most famous for its associations with the 19th century author George Eliot, who was born on a farm on the Arbury Estate just outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the town for...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
and worked in the neighbouring village of Griff
Griff, Warwickshire
Griff is a hamlet in the English county of Warwickshire.Griff is located on the A444 road between the towns of Nuneaton and Bedworth and is administered as part of Nuneaton and Bedworth district....
. In 1717, he published an engraving of the Newcomen engine erected there in 1714 by Thomas Newcomen
Thomas Newcomen
Thomas Newcomen was an ironmonger by trade and a Baptist lay preacher by calling. He was born in Dartmouth, Devon, England, near a part of the country noted for its tin mines. Flooding was a major problem, limiting the depth at which the mineral could be mined...
. In 1718 he erected one at Oxclose colliery at Washington, County Durham
Washington, Tyne and Wear
Washington is a town in the City of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, England. Historically part of County Durham, it joined a new county in 1974 with the creation of Tyne and Wear...
. By measuring the work done by the Griff engine, he was able to publish a table of quantity of water that could be raised by an engine with a six-foot stroke working at 16 strokes per minute.
On his return to his native county he made a plane table
Plane table
A plane table is a device used in surveying and related disciplines to provide a solid and level surface on which to make field drawings, charts and maps...
and prepared a map of the county, which was published in 1728 at a scale of one inch to one mile.
He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1720 and contributed four papers to the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society is a scientific journal published by the Royal Society of London. It was established in 1665, making it the first journal in the world exclusively devoted to science, and it has remained in continuous publication ever since, making it the world's...
, including a description of his plane table, and of George Sorocold
George Sorocold
George Sorocold was an engineer in Derby, England in the eighteenth century.- Biography :He was born in Derby some time around 1668, the son of James Sorocold who had moved to the town from Lancashire...
's waterworks at London Bridge
London Bridge
London Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, connecting the City of London and Southwark, in central London. Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge, it forms the western end of the Pool of London...
.
His interest in the working of the Griff engine brought him into contact with J. T. Desaguliers
John Theophilus Desaguliers
John Theophilus Desaguliers was a natural philosopher born in France. He was a member of the Royal Society of London beginning 29 July 1714. He was presented with the Royal Society's highest honour, the Copley Medal, in 1734, 1736 and 1741, with the 1741 award being for his discovery of the...
and contributed details and illustrations of hydraulic machines for the second volume of the latter's Course of Experimental Philosophy, eventually published in 1744. This included a description by Beighton of an overshot mill, with an engraving of a corn mill by the abbey in Nuneaton. This is the earliest illustration of a mill where a single waterwheel drove more than one set of machinery.
His outstanding county map of Warwickshire was one of the first soundly based on triginometrical survey methods. A remarkably wide range of features is depicted on the map, reflecting the whole life and economy of the county: Parish churches, chapels, depopulated places, seats of nobility, chases, parks, king's houses, monasteries, castles, Roman ways, etc. Beighton's map was well ahead of its time. 3