Eugenius Birch

Eugenius Birch (20 June 1818 – 8 January 1884) was a 19th-century English seaside architect, civil engineer and noted builder of promenade-piers^[1] and two large aquaria.

Both Eugenius and his elder brother, John Brannis (1813-1862), were born in Gloucester Terrace (later Pitfield Street), Shoreditch, London to architect and surveyor John and his wife, Susanne.^[2] He attended schools in Brighton and at Euston Square. Fascinated by engineering from a young age, he would often visit major engineering works being built in north London (such as the Primrose Hill Tunnel). While still a boy he submitted a design for a passenger carriage to the London and Greenwich Railway company. His innovation, to place the wheels beneath the carriage as opposed to the side, thus freeing more room for the passengers was adopted by the railway.^[3]

As a result of the success in getting his idea adopted at aged 16 he was able to join Messrs. Bligh’s engineering works in Limehouse, London as an apprentice, and then studied at the Mechanics' Institute at the request of Dr George Birkbeck. In 1837, aged 19, he received a silver Isis Medal from the Society of Arts for his drawing of a marine steam engine, and the following year a Silver Telford Medal for his drawings and description of Huddert’s rope machinery.^[3]

On 19 February 1839, Birch was elected a Graduate of the Institution of Civil Engineers, becoming a Member on 5 May 1863. In 1845 he formed a general design engineering partnership with his brother, John Brannis Birch, which worked across various projects including railways (such as the East Indian Railway from Calcutta to Delhi), viaducts and bridges (including the Kelham and Stockwith bridges).^[3]

He also designed the Devon and Somerset Railway, Exmouth docks, Ilfracombe harbour, West Surrey waterworks and Brighton Aquarium, the oldest operational aquarium in the world.^[3][4]

On his return to England from India, Birch brought his global experiences to bear on the developing English fascination with seaside holidays, specifically the construction of piers. With the railways now allowing easy and cheap access to the seaside, and the known health benefits of clean air, businessmen in coastal towns were competing against each other to create the longest and most ornate piers to attract the greatest number of tourists.^[3]

In 1853, a group of Margate businessmen approach Birch to build the first screw-pile pier in Britain. In its design and construction, he brought two innovations:^[3] firstly, stylistic innovations directly influenced by his travels, and secondly, the adoption of screw blade added to iron piles making for a deeper and far more resilient base support. The result was a stylish and resilient Margate Pier, which survived storms and two world wars until it was destroyed by a storm in January 1978. The pier's foundations survive to this day, despite direct attempts at demolition.^[3]

The Margate pier led to a series of new commissions, which eventually ran to 14 piers in total, the most famous of which is the West Pier, Brighton.^[5][6] On top of this he designed the piled Royal Netley Hospital pier. His effect on pier construction techniques can be measured in the fact that, from 1862 to 1872, 18 new pleasure piers were built, the majority using screw piling.^[3] His last pier was at Plymouth, opened in the year he died, 1884.^[5]

In the BBC Radio 2 sitcom It Sticks Out Half a Mile (the radio sequel to Dad's Army), Birch is the builder of the fictional Frambourne-on-Sea pier.

Alongside his seaside work with piers, Birch was also well-known for his design of aquaria in resort settings, first in Brighton and then in Scarborough.

Excavation of the site for the Brighton Marine Aquarium began in July 1870; the first brick was laid on 2 February 1871 and the whole project completed in August 1872.^[7] The building was 715 ft (218 metres) long, with average width of 100 ft (30.5 m.). It was built below street level so as not to obstruct the view for residents nearby. The principal entrance was opposite the Royal Albion Hotel, at the bottom of the Old Steine. Having descended three broad flights of granite steps, the visitor reached the floor of the entrance court, 20 ft below the Marine Parade. The entrance court was 58 ft by 30 ft (17.5 m. by 9 m.) “Heat will come from hot-water pipes under the flooring. The entrance-hall will not only furnish a pleasant lounge and promenade ; it will also be used as a lecture-room and for scientific conversaziones”.^[7] The hall contained the world’s largest display tank, for showing marine life. The entrance hall also provided a reading room, restaurant and a conservatory with fernery, rockery and cascade.^[8]

The roof terrace was completed by 1874 and, two years later, a roller skating rink, smoking room, cafe and music conservatory were all added.

“The Aquarium proved to be an instant success with the town’s fashionable society and received many royal visitors”.^[8][9] The initial success was not sustained however, and by 1901 the Aquarium was in financial difficulty. In October the building and business were purchased by the corporation for £30,000, and Brighton Aquarium was thereafter managed as a municipal enterprise. “The Aquarium’s popularity then rose again as Brighton’s fortunes in general revived”. In 1927 the Aquarium closed for a £117,000 modernisation. When it was reopened by the Duke of York on 12 June 1929,^[10] there had been many changes and additions, including a modern concert hall seating some 1,250 people.^[8]

The decision to construct the Scarborough Marine Aquarium (which would be bigger than its Brighton predecessor, though offering fewer attractions) was taken by the Town Council in January 1873.^[11]

Anyone in Scarborough in 1876, had they looked down near the Cliff Bridge, would have seen “beautiful and fairy-like groupings of arcades, courts, and grottoes concealed almost beneath his feet; vast corridors of rare architecture … ; magnificent saloons …”^[12] The theme throughout was very much Indian, “of Moorish and Hindoo character, executed chiefly in coloured brickwork”.^[13] The Aquarium was opened “without any outward ceremony, and devoid of any outward pomp” in 21 May 1877.^[14] Although it closed in 1968, memories of the Aquarium live on in the form of a recent exhibition.^[15]

Later in his life, particularly during his travels, Birch produced numerous watercolour paintings, particularly those of Italy, Egypt and Nubia during a tour taken during the winter of 1874–75.^[5]

In the 1880s Birch damaged his ankle so severely that he was later forced to have his leg amputated to the thigh. Later complications led to his eventual death. Eugenius Birch died on 8 January 1884 at Laurieston Lodge, West End Hampstead NW, after a long and painful illness.^[16] and is buried on the west side of Highgate Cemetery close to the grave of his brother John Braniss. Eugenius's grave (plot no.25915) has no headstone or identifiable memorial.

On 10 February 1842, at Manchester Cathedral, Birch married Margaret Gent, the daughter of Charles, a silk manufacturer from Cheshire. She was the sister-in-law of Birch's sister. The couple had no children, but Birch had two children, Eugene (born 1879) and Ethel (born 1881), with his wife's niece, Marion Morris.^[16]

• Bio at structurae.de