1896

James Henry Greathead

Railway and tunnelling engineer. Born in Grahamstown, South Africa. Arrived in England in 1859. Studied with and then worked with civil engineer Peter W. Barlow on the Tower Subway tunnel. The travelling shield was invented by Marc Isambard Brunel. Greathead introduced modifications which meant it was generally used in constructing tunnels, in particular the tunnels of London's deep level tube system including the Waterloo and City line. Chief engineer, City and South London Railway.

We have found 3 abandoned tunnelling shields around London: at either end of the Rotherhithe tunnel and in a tunnel at Bank station. Died in London.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
James Henry Greathead

Commemorated ati

Greathead shield at Bank

This 'Greathead' type tunnelling shield ws left at this point 18 metres below...

James Greathead statue

Note that part of the Greathead shield used in digging the tunnels at Bank St...

James Greathead - SW13

James Henry Greathead, 1844 - 1896, railway and tunnellng engineer, lived her...

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Other Subjects

Commissioners of Sewers, Holborn and Finsbury Divisions

We don't want to go very deeply into this subject but according to this report: Holborn and Finsbury Divisions of Sewers. Report of the Surveyor [J. Roe] to the Court held 27th January 1843 ... By ...

Group, Engineering

2 memorials

Woolwich Royal Arsenal

Site of armaments manufacture, ammunition proofing, and explosives research for the British armed forces. Its origins go back to the 17th century, and it continued producing armaments and associate...

Place, Engineering

2 memorials

Thames Tunnel Flood - 1828

During construction, the tunnel was flooded on six separate occasions the worst being the second flooding, on 12 January 1828, in which six workmen died. "Near shift change. Isambard was in the sh...

Event, Engineering, Tragedy

1 memorial

Greenwich Foot Tunnel

Pedestrian tunnel under the Thames designed by Sir Alexander Binnie, linking Greenwich town centre in the south with Island Gardens Park in the north. It is 1,215 feet (370.2 m) long and 50 feet (1...

Building, Engineering, Transport

3 memorials

Rotherhithe Tunnel

Road tunnel crossing under the River Thames, connecting Rotherhithe to the Ratcliff district of Limehouse. Designed by Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice, it was constructed using both a tunnelling 'shield' a...

Building, Engineering, Transport

7 memorials

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Frank Pick

Pioneer of good design for London Transport. Born Lincolnshire. Click on the picture source web site for more information.

Person, Art, Industry

2 memorials