Rotherhithe Tunnel Southern Arch - Tunnel Approach, London, UK
N 51° 29.957 W 000° 03.257
30U E 704453 N 5709464
As the tunnel is approached from St Olav's Square, which is in fact a roundabout, there is an arch across the approach with granite pillars on either side. Each of these pillars carries a plaque.
Waymark Code: WMET09
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 07/03/2012
Views: 3
The arch across the road seems
superfluous and a bit of decoration there just for the sake of it. The plaque on
the left had side pillar, when facing the tunnel explains all:
London County
Council - Rotherhithe Tunnel
The cast steel
segments
of which this arch is built
formed
the cutting edge of the
shield
by means of which
the tunnel
south of and under the
river
was constructed.
The right hand pillar also carries a
plaque:
London County Council
- Rotherhithe Tunnel
Commended in 1904 and Opened in 1908
by
His Royal
Highness, The Prince of Wales.
R.A.Robinson, J.P.
Chairman of the Council.
W.Whitaker Thompson, Vice-Chairman.
A.A.Allen,
M.P. Deputy-Chairman.
The Lord Elcho,
Chairman of Improvements Committee
W.Burton Stewart, Vice
Chairman.
Maurice Fitzmaurice,
C.M.G., Chief Engineer.
Edward H.Tabor, Resident Engineer.
Contractors, Messrs
Price & Reeves. Contractors' Engineer, James Brown.
The arch is a Grade II listed building
and its entry, at the English Heritage website (visit
link), reads:
"Archway to tunnel approach. 1908.
By Thomas Blashill, architect; Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice, chief engineer. 2
massive banded granite piers with plinths and cornice caps abutting flanged and
bolted semicircular steel arch, illustrating the arched bracing of the tunnel
itself. Tunnel opened by the Prince of Wales (later George V) in 1908. Identical
to the archway to Rotherhithe Tunnel approach on Middlesex shore (London Borough
of Tower Hamlets)."