Harbour pier proposed in 1798

Do you  know that  a Harbour  pier was proposed to Lord Edward  Clive in 1798 itself before the first  Screw Pile Pier foundation was laid 60 years later  in September  1859 by Charles Travelyan.

     In 1798 Captain Lennon of East India Company proposed a harbour  pier for  Madras to the  Governor.  His proposal  consisted of  a single pier 450 yards  away  from  the  shore. It would be a masonry structure  36 feet  thick at the  base and 30 feet at the top having double parapets. The  sand was to be removed by mechanical scoops for 3 feet depth, sink caissons 20 feet by 12 feet fill them with masonry the spaces in between covered with brickwork. Provision was made for Cranes, boat stairs , a battery of 15 guns at the  pier head and for delivery of water through pipe. At that time itself it was suggested sand would accumulate on the south side of pier ( which later became marina sands after construction of harbour  in 1875) Lennon held that current would be deflected along the pier carrying sand back to sea which was not to be.  The  total cost of the Pier designed by Lennon  was £120000. It was proposed opposite to the  proposed  new Customs House in Black Town by Edward Clive which was shifted in 1800.

    But the proposal never took shape and Madras has to  wait for another 60 years to have its first harbour  pier