Lifting bridges in the shadow of Tower Bridge
The bridges at St Katharine’s Docks
The famous engineer Thomas Telford was the engineer who was responsible for creating St Katharine’s Docks. More recently civil engeers have overseen a dramatic redevelopment of the area.
The docks were Telford’s one major project in London started when he was 67 years old. The dock opened on 25th October 1828. The docks were designed primarily to handle valuable cargoes such as ivory, shells, sugar, marble, wines, rubber, carpets, fragrant spices and perfumes.
The docks have always featured bridges that are low enough for people to move cross the canals freely but able to clear away so that boats can pass through.
An original bridge designed by Telford is still on display in the docks. It stood in its original position until 1994. This bridge was in two halves mounted on railway tracks. Heavy counterweights balanced the footways. When large ships wanted to enter the dock, the two halves could be rolled away. This was possible because they were mounted on wheels which ran on railway track.
Other lifting bridges are still in use. The modern bridge beside the lock was designed by the engineering company Arup that was responsible for the structural engineering during the St Katherine's dock redevelopment
Submitted by: Andrew Hunt, 04 May 2008
