Tower Bridge Research Articles

The Thames Barrier Project

The paper draws attention to the flood risk to London as a result of storm conditions in the North Sea leading to exceptionally high water levels in the Thames Estuary. The risk is increasing because of the adverse change which is taking place in high water levels at London Bridge of about 0.6 metres per century. Due to the pattern of development of London over the centuries, the present situation is such that 115 km2 of densely built-up area is at risk of flooding should the tidal Thames over-top the existing flood defences. These provide a freeboard above the highest predicted tides of about 1.2 metres but due to gales in the North Sea, high water levels 2.5 metres above those predicted have been experienced but, so far, fortunately not on a high predicted tide. To eliminate this risk, in 1972 the decision was taken jointly by the Government and the GLC, to build a barrier across the river in the western half of Woolwich Reach. Protection to built-up areas further downstream is being provided by raising the existing flood defences by as much as 2 metres. The Barrier has four main gates of 61 metres, the same width of opening as the main span of Tower Bridge, and six smaller openings of 31 metres. Normally the tide will flow freely through the structure, the gates being closed only when dangerous conditions are developing in the outer estuary. Two to three closures per year are expected during the early life of the structure increasing possibly up to ten per year in the next century. The main contracts for the civil engineering work on the piers, the structural work on the gates, and the electrical and mechanical work ofthe operating machinery were placed in 1974, and work on site on the main civil contract started in 1975. The structure is now about half completed, and on the present programme the Barrier will be operable at the end of 1982.

Hotel de la Torre Londres - Gran Bretaña

It has been built on the banks of the Thames, and owes its name to its nearness to the Tower of London, which also gave its name to the old Tower Bridge, located over the river and a few metres from the building. The rear frontage of the hotel faces the nearby Saint Catherine's Dock, completing an attractive surrounding in one of the paradoxically least developed areas of the city, and which has been taken least advantage of. Total construction occupies an area of 36,560 m 2 arranged in 15 storeys, on the ground floor, plus a basement for mechanical installations and car-parks. The programme includes: 704 double rooms; 111 single rooms; 8 suites; 95 rooms for hotel staff; restaurant facilities; bar and cafeteria; three conference rooms; a public gallery for different uses; kitchens, several floors for mechanical installations; underground garage; canteen and rooms for staff, and management offices.

Her Majesty the Queen Honours the Society’s i.g.y. antarctic expedition

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN honoured the Society on the afternoon of 13 November 1956 on the occasion of her visit to the Motor Ship Magga Dan moored alongside Butlers Wharf, Tower Bridge. On her arrival Her Majesty was welcomed by Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Slessor, G.C.B., D.S.O., M.C., the Chairman of the Management Committee of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition, with whom the ship was being shared, and by the President, Sir Cyril Hinshelwood, P.R.S. After Her Majesty had received Dr Vivian Fuchs and the members of the main party of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition, who were about to proceed to Shackleton Base, she was graciously pleased to receive Lieutenant-Colonel R. A. Smart, R.A.M.C., the leader of the main party of the Royal Society International Geophysical Year Antarctic Expedition, who were about to proceed to Royal Society Base, Halley Bay. Colonel Smart then presented the following members of his party:

The Corrupting Influence of Power

The Corrupting Influence of Power Get access The Corrupting Influence of Power. By Gerhard Ritter. Trans. from German by F. W. Pick. Foreword by G. P. Gooch. Essex, Tower Bridge Publications, 1952. xv+197 pp. 834′​′×512′​′⁠. 21s. D. C. Somervell D. C. Somervell Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar International Affairs, Volume 29, Issue 2, April 1953, Pages 205–206, https://doi.org/10.2307/2608988 Published: 01 April 1953

The Tower Bridge

The Tower Bridge

The Tower Bridge

Journal Article The Tower Bridge Get access Tekton Tekton Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Notes and Queries, Volume 178, Issue 2, 13 January 1940, Page 29, https://doi.org/10.1093/nq/178.2.29g Published: 13 January 1940

Street Traffic Signals, 1868–1934

IN 1868 the City of Westminster introduced a method of mechanical signalling to help the police to control the traffic. A semaphore, having a red and green gas lamp for night use, was employed, but unfortunately an explosion put an abrupt end to this experiment. Early in this century, road signals similar to railway signals were used for controlling a few tramways and also the traffic on Tower Bridge. So back as 1918, colour light signals were used to control street traffic in New York. The Siemens and General Electric Railway Signal Co. (S.G.E.) installed the first modern British traffic signal at a busy road junction in Wolverhampton in 1926. The most recent development of the vehicle-actuated signals is the ‘Autoflex’ system of the S.G.E., a full description of which is given in the Engineering Supplement of the Siemens Magazine for April. It was first brought into use in November 1933 and there are now several installations giving very satisfactory service. In this system vehicles approachmg a road junction pass over pneumatic detector mats, installed in the paths of the various traffic streams, and so notify their movements to an electrically operated controller. The mats are equivalent to the eyes and ears of a traffic policeman. If vehicles leave the intersection on the wrong side of the road the mats are insensitive. The top of the mat is rounded and projects slightly above the road level presenting a good striking face, so that it is not possible for high-speed vehicles or caterpillar tractors to ride over it without registering. If no suitable gap occurs within a predetermined time, the continuous stream is arbitrarily interrupted and the right of way transferred. There is no necessity for long ‘amber’ periods since signal changes take place only when the intersection is clear; two or three seconds are generally sufficient. The power required for a controller is only about 30 watts, which is less than that required by an ordinary lamp.

The Nematodes of the Thames

IN a recent letter to NATURE on the “oze of the Thames,” I alluded to the number of nematodes which I had observed. I found as I continued my researches at least three different species were present. I have since been working on some ooze from near the Tower Bridge, and again find three different species, some of which are quite distinct from the forms taken at Kew. Thus the two localities yield at least four, if not five, different kinds. They range from about 3 mm. to 20 mm. or more in length. Considering the important part which some of these lowly creatures play in human and animal pathology, it would seem that the Thames mud offers a wide field for investigation. May we hope that this note will direct the attention of London naturalists to a subject of great importance lying close to hand?

The Nematodes of the Thames

IN a recent letter to NATURE on the “oze of the Thames,” I alluded to the number of nematodes which I had observed. I found as I continued my researches at least three different species were present. I have since been working on some ooze from near the Tower Bridge, and again find three different species, some of which are quite distinct from the forms taken at Kew. Thus the two localities yield at least four, if not five, different kinds. They range from about 3 mm. to 20 mm. or more in length. Considering the important part which some of these lowly creatures play in human and animal pathology, it would seem that the Thames mud offers a wide field for investigation. May we hope that this note will direct the attention of London naturalists to a subject of great importance lying close to hand?

Tower Bridge anticipated

Tower Bridge anticipated

DISCUSSION. THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE RIVER-PIERS OF THE TOWER BRIDGE.

Keywords FOUNDATIONS, RIVERS, PIERS, BRIDGES, SUBSTRUCTURES, CAISSONS, TOES, CONCRETE TOWER BRIDGE, THAMES, LONDON UK... Show All