Port Of London Research Articles

Mainly the Port of London

Mainly the Port of London

Announcements

DR. MONTAGTJ TRAVERS MORGAN, medical officer of the Ministry of Health, has recently been appointed medical officer of health of the Port of London by the London Corporation.

River Bank Protection

FOR the Inland Navigation Section of the Sixteenth International Congress of Navigation, Brussels, 1935, Dr. Brysson Cunningham prepared a report on “The Estuarial Embankments of the River Thames”. Of the origins of these walls little is definitely known and, in his “History of the Port of London”, Sir Joseph Broodbank inclines to the view that their construction was a gradual and piecemeal process undertaken locally with the purpose of reclaiming for agriculture the valuable lands along the banks of the river, and probably initiated by immigrants from Flanders familiar with work of this kind. As he also says, “The builders in carrying out their object would not trouble themselves as to the effect their work had on the stream nor did they realise that they were, in fact, performing a mighty service in providing for London one of its greatest assets as a Port”. Records of repairs and alterations have been traced back to the time of Edward II, and about that time Commissions of Sewers using the word in its original sense began to be appointed to exercise jurisdiction in several localities. Until 1930, when the Land Drainage Act established Catchment and Drainage Boards to take over their duties, these Commissions acted under the authority of an Act of 1531 to protect the lands from being flooded either by inundation or accumulation of superfluous waters. As consultant engineer to two of these bodies entrusted with portions of the Thames Embankments, Dr. Brysson Cunningham was able to advise the Congress as to the nature of the problems presented, and gave an account of the construction, maintenance, repair and renewal of these walls. Altogether, the earthworks on both sides of the river below London Bridge have a total length of approximately 120 miles and give protection to 64 square miles of low-lying marshland. Being 4-5 feet above Ordnance Datum while H.W.O.S.T. level is 10-13 feet, these extensive lands would, without protection, become permanently flooded. In the report, the several inimical agencies are described and, by maps, sections and diagrams, the methods and materials used to ensure adequate defence are fully exhibited.

An Education Film—” Northern Lights”

THE sound film entitled “Northern Lights” seen recently at a private view at the offices of the Western Electric Co. at Bush House, Aldwych, London, W.C.2r is the film record of the expedition that set sail from the Port of London in July, 1930, in the late Sir Ernest Shackleton's old ship the Quest, under the leadership of Gino Watkins, to explore the possibilities of an air route between England and Central Canada. It is now available under the Western Electric Company's “All-in” Hiring Service, under which films, equipment and operators can be hired under one inclusive hiring fee, and is the latest addition to a series of educational films specially suitable for schools, that includes “Climbing Mount Everest” and “With Byrd at the South Pole”. The photography is of a high standard, particularly in view of the trying conditions under which much of it was done. Particularly impressive was the record of a blizzard at the Expedition's base on the east coast of Greenland, views of the driving clouds of snow on the mountains being followed by others showing the subsequent gale in the fiord, which averaged 80 miles-an-hour and reached 120 miles-an-hour in gusts. Through the spindrift could be seen the floes of ice being hurried out towards the open sea, and the whole effect, combined with the accompanying sound record of the shrieking of the wind, was extremely impressive. There were glimpses also of the Eskimos and their kayaks, and of the members of the crew learning to use these vessels for the purpose of hunting seals, and finally of actual seal hunts. A good idea is given of the laborious sledge journeys in melting snow, and on ice slopes, and of the part played by the dogs huskies from the west coast of Greenland. The educational value of the film is considerable, and it should prove very entertaining, as well as instructive, at schools.

A Review of Port Sanitary Administration, by CHARLES F. WHITE, M.B., Ch.B., D.P.H., Medical Officer of Health, Port of London. (Fellow.)

A Review of Port Sanitary Administration, by CHARLES F. WHITE, M.B., Ch.B., D.P.H., Medical Officer of Health, Port of London. (Fellow.)

Oil Industries Exhibition

CONCURRENTLY with the World Petroleum Congress, the ‘Oil Industries Exhibition’ was held at the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington. The major exhibits included a scale model of an airport at King's Cross for which Central Airports, Ltd. are seeking Parliamentary sanction; a Fiat seaplane engine which holds the world's record for speed and develops 2,900 horse-power; and models illustrating the facilities which exist at the Port of London and in the docks alongside the Manchester Ship Canal for the importation and distribution of petroleum and heavy oils. In addition, there were models of Southampton docks, the White Star liner Homeric, the L.M.S. engine Royal Scot, the Gladstone docks at Liverpool and a panoramic view of Liverpool docks. Manufacturers of instruments and equipment for the production, testing and refining of petroleum and petroleum products also supplied many interesting exhibits. Unfortunately, it cannot be claimed that the exhibition was a success either from the point of view of numbers and variety of exhibits or of attendance. Many leading firms in the industry had no representation whatever, and one looked in vain for that fullness of demonstration and display, both technical and commercial, which an oil industries exhibition should, and usually does, connote. Coinciding as it did with the World Petroleum Congress, it was a poor advertisement for the commercial activities of the industry which, on this occasion at least, should never have been permitted. A drastic revision of all the circumstances of this exhibition, particularly as regards habitat, is imperative in the best interests of the industry and certainly as a safeguard to prevent a recurrence of failure in the future.

XIV.—The London Customs House during the Middle Ages

The actual working of a medieval port is a fascinating subject for study: when the port is London, and the time the fourteenth century, the interest is increased, for this is the earliest date at which the customs administration takes definite shape. The present paper was undertaken as part of the investigations into the life and works of Chaucer carried on by Professor Manly and Professor Rickert of the University of Chicago with the aid of a grant from the General Education Board. The research into Chaucer's work as controller of customs involved the collection of material of a more general character with only an indirect bearing on the poet's life. In this paper, with Mr. Manly's generous permission, is set out an account of the site of the Woolwharf with the buildings on it, a story which affords glimpses of the officials at work on the quay, of the machinery for the collection and administration of the customs in the port of London. The object of the search being limited, the present study makes no claim to be exhaustive in its treatment, though a large number of records have been examined at both the Public Record Office and the Guildhall.

Tuberculosis : A Note on the Health of Crews and Ship Hygiene, by W. M. WILLOUGHBY, M.D., D.P.H., Medical Officer of Health, Port of London (Fellow)

Tuberculosis : A Note on the Health of Crews and Ship Hygiene, by W. M. WILLOUGHBY, M.D., D.P.H., Medical Officer of Health, Port of London (Fellow)

Some Considerations in the Practical Examination of Canned Foods, by W. M. WILLOUGHBY, M.D., D.P.H., Medical Officer of Health, Port of London (Fellow)

Some Considerations in the Practical Examination of Canned Foods, by W. M. WILLOUGHBY, M.D., D.P.H., Medical Officer of Health, Port of London (Fellow)

Dr. W. Collingridge

DR. WILLIAM COLLINGRIDGE, who died on April 29 at seventy-three years of age, went up to Cambridge as a young man, and while there his medical studies were interrupted by the circumstance that he volunteered surgical services to the Serbian Forces during the Turko-Serbian War. On his return to England he resumed his studies at the University and graduated in medicine. After two years of private practice he was appointed (1880) Medical Officer of Health of the Port of London, and during his twenty years' tenure of this post he contributed materially to the advances made in port sanitary work. The period was an eventful one; for two continental epidemics of cholera seriously threatened Great Britain, and the measures he devised and conducted were of great assistance in securing the immunity from infection which London, and the country generally, enjoyed. In no small measure are we indebted to Collingridge for the comparative composure with which we should face such risks at the present day.

Plague Measures in 1665 and now, by W. M. WILLOUGHBY, B.A., M.D., D.P.H., Medical Officer of Health, Port of London. (Fellow.)

Plague Measures in 1665 and now, by W. M. WILLOUGHBY, B.A., M.D., D.P.H., Medical Officer of Health, Port of London. (Fellow.)

Discussion on Food and Health, opened by Major-General Sir WILFRED BEVERIDGE, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O., M.B., D.P.H. (Fellow), and W. M. WILLOUGHBY, B.A., M.D., D.P.H. (Fellow). Medical Officer of Health for the Port of London

Discussion on Food and Health, opened by Major-General Sir WILFRED BEVERIDGE, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O., M.B., D.P.H. (Fellow), and W. M. WILLOUGHBY, B.A., M.D., D.P.H. (Fellow). Medical Officer of Health for the Port of London

Horologers in London port

Journal Article Horologers in London port Get access Mc. Mc. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Notes and Queries, Volume s12-XI, Issue 232, 23 September 1922, Pages 247–248, https://doi.org/10.1093/nq/s12-XI.232.247c Published: 23 September 1922

History of the Port of London

History of the Port of London

Discharge of Grain Cargoes in the Port of London by Pneumatic Elevators

Discharge of Grain Cargoes in the Port of London by Pneumatic Elevators

The Port of London and the States

The Port of London and the States

The Port of London and the States

The Port of London and the States

Rat Plague: and the Powers of a Medical Officer of Health to Cope therewith, by W. M. WILLOUGHBY, M.D., D.P.H., Deputy Medical Officer of Health, Port of London

Rat Plague: and the Powers of a Medical Officer of Health to Cope therewith, by W. M. WILLOUGHBY, M.D., D.P.H., Deputy Medical Officer of Health, Port of London

Insanitary Conditions on Ship Board, by HERBERT WILLIAMS, M.D.Lond., D.P.H.Camb., M.O.H. Port of London (FELLOW)

Insanitary Conditions on Ship Board, by HERBERT WILLIAMS, M.D.Lond., D.P.H.Camb., M.O.H. Port of London (FELLOW)

Engineering at the British Association

THE proceedings in Section G opened at Melbourne with a paper by Prof. Petavel on aviation research. The author described the results of recent experiments on the air resistance of various shaped bodies at different speeds, and also on the lifting power of planes of various shapes. This was followed by a paper on railways and motive power by Prof. Dalby, who showed a number of curves t elating to the development and cost of working of British railways, and discussed briefly the relative advantages of steam and electric traction. Mr. Hedley Thomson followed with a paper on a transmission system suitable for heavy internal-combustion locomotives, in which he maintained that the difficulties of the internal-combustion locomotive were mainly due to the want of a suitable variable-speed control mechanism, and that these difficulties were overcome by the Thomas transmission gear, which he described. Curves were shown illustrating the high efficiency and other advantages to be obtained in this way. The internal-combustion locomotive is of special importance in Australia because of fuel and water difficulties. A paper was then read on the Canberra plan by Mr. W. B. Griffin, who was awarded the premium offered by the Commonwealth for the best town-planning scheme for the new Federal capital. The paper dealt with the principles underlying the design of such a town and their applications to the site at Canberra. The Government exhibited a number of elevations showing what Canberra will look like if and when the present scheme is carried through. The concluding paper on the first day was by Mr. Kirkpatrick, on the development of the Port of London.