on 23 may 1853 a contract for foundations was agreed with messrs cockburn & son builders (for £24,000) and ground was broken some months later. it was during this time that samuel haughton (professor of geology) undertook an investigation into the suitability of the site due to its close proximity to the old library. he reported various layers of made ground, ash pits and calcareous drift, finally deeming the site permissible to build upon.