Thomas Page (engineer)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Page was a British civil engineer
who was responsible for the design and construction of many bridges, including Westminster Bridge
and the first Chelsea Bridge
(both crossing the River Thames
).
(a village in the North Riding of Yorkshire
, as it was then termed, by the River Tees
) was designed to prepare him for life as a sailor. However, the engineer Thomas Tredgold suggested that Page become a civil engineer
, advice that Page followed.
before working on the Thames Tunnel
from 1835, initially as an assistant to Isambard Kingdom Brunel
before becoming acting engineer in 1836 upon the retirement of Richard Beamish. His design for the Thames Embankment
from Westminster
to Blackfriars was recommended by the Commissioners for Metropolis Improvements in 1842, and he became consulting engineer for the Office of Woods and Forests, including responsibility for the Thames Embankment Office. In this role, his approval was required for any railway works affecting Crown land, and he would sometimes suggest changes (as happened at the Old Deer Park
, Richmond, and at Windsor Home Park). The Thames Embankment project failed to progress after disagreements between the Crown Estate
and the City of London corporation about riparian rights.
In 1845, Page drew plans for a new railway terminus to be built in the Thames between Hungerford Bridge
and Waterloo Bridge
; it was never built. Other proposals included a railway tunnel underneath London Docks
to connect the London to Brighton line with the Eastern Counties Railway
(1845), docks for Holyhead
and Porth Dinllaen in north Wales, which were competing for the Irish mail traffic (1846) and docks for Swansea
(1847). He then designed and built the Albert
and Victoria Bridges
in Datchet
, with new roads between Windsor
and Frogmore
(1848–49). He also designed Westminster Bridge
(built between 1854 and 1862) and the first Chelsea Bridge
(opened 1858), and was responsible for the plans for the embankment and road on the stretch of the Thames between Vauxhall Bridge
and Battersea Bridge
(opened 1869). In 1870, addressing the Society of Arts, he put forward the idea of a submerged tube to act as a tunnel between England and France. Page died in Paris on 8 January 1877.
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
who was responsible for the design and construction of many bridges, including Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge over the River Thames between Westminster on the north side and Lambeth on the south side, in London, England....
and the first Chelsea Bridge
Chelsea Bridge
Chelsea Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames in west London, connecting Chelsea on the north bank to Battersea on the south bank. There have been two Chelsea Bridges, on the site of what was an ancient ford....
(both crossing the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
).
Early life
Page was born in London on 26 October 1803. The education he received whilst growing up in RomaldkirkRomaldkirk
Romaldkirk is a village in Teesdale, in the Pennines of England. It was historically located in the North Riding of Yorkshire but along with the rest of the former Startforth Rural District it was transferred to County Durham for administrative and ceremonial purposes on 1 April 1974, under the...
(a village in the North Riding of Yorkshire
North Riding of Yorkshire
The North Riding of Yorkshire was one of the three historic subdivisions of the English county of Yorkshire, alongside the East and West Ridings. From the Restoration it was used as a Lieutenancy area. The three ridings were treated as three counties for many purposes, such as having separate...
, as it was then termed, by the River Tees
River Tees
The River Tees is in Northern England. It rises on the eastern slope of Cross Fell in the North Pennines, and flows eastwards for 85 miles to reach the North Sea between Hartlepool and Redcar.-Geography:...
) was designed to prepare him for life as a sailor. However, the engineer Thomas Tredgold suggested that Page become a civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
, advice that Page followed.
Career
Page worked in Leeds and then moved to the London office of Edward BloreEdward Blore
Edward Blore was a 19th century British landscape and architectural artist, architect and antiquary. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland ....
before working on the Thames Tunnel
Thames Tunnel
The Thames Tunnel is an underwater tunnel, built beneath the River Thames in London, United Kingdom, connecting Rotherhithe and Wapping. It measures 35 feet wide by 20 feet high and is 1,300 feet long, running at a depth of 75 feet below the river's surface...
from 1835, initially as an assistant to Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
before becoming acting engineer in 1836 upon the retirement of Richard Beamish. His design for the Thames Embankment
Thames Embankment
The Thames Embankment is a major feat of 19th century civil engineering designed to reclaim marshy land next to the River Thames in central London. It consists of the Victoria and Chelsea Embankment....
from Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
to Blackfriars was recommended by the Commissioners for Metropolis Improvements in 1842, and he became consulting engineer for the Office of Woods and Forests, including responsibility for the Thames Embankment Office. In this role, his approval was required for any railway works affecting Crown land, and he would sometimes suggest changes (as happened at the Old Deer Park
Old Deer Park
Old Deer Park is an area of open space within Richmond-upon-Thames, England, and is in extent. The park is bounded generally by the River Thames to the west, Kew Gardens to the north, and urban areas of Richmond town to the east and south. Owned by the Crown Estate, the park forms part of a larger...
, Richmond, and at Windsor Home Park). The Thames Embankment project failed to progress after disagreements between the Crown Estate
Crown Estate
In the United Kingdom, the Crown Estate is a property portfolio owned by the Crown. Although still belonging to the monarch and inherent with the accession of the throne, it is no longer the private property of the reigning monarch and cannot be sold by him/her, nor do the revenues from it belong...
and the City of London corporation about riparian rights.
In 1845, Page drew plans for a new railway terminus to be built in the Thames between Hungerford Bridge
Hungerford Bridge
The Hungerford Bridge crosses the River Thames in London, and lies between Waterloo Bridge and Westminster Bridge. It is a steel truss railway bridge—sometimes known as the Charing Cross Bridge—flanked by two more recent, cable-stayed, pedestrian bridges that share the railway bridge's...
and Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge crossing the River Thames in London, England between Blackfriars Bridge and Hungerford Bridge. The name of the bridge is in memory of the British victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815...
; it was never built. Other proposals included a railway tunnel underneath London Docks
London Docks
The London Docks were one of several sets of docks in the historic Port of London. They were constructed in Wapping downstream from the City of London between 1799 and 1815, at a cost exceeding £5½ million. Traditionally ships had docked at wharves on the River Thames, but by this time, more...
to connect the London to Brighton line with the Eastern Counties Railway
Eastern Counties Railway
The Eastern Counties Railway was an early English railway company incorporated in 1836. It was intended to link London with Ipswich via Colchester, and then on to Norwich and Yarmouth. Construction began in late March 1837 on the first nine miles, at the London end of the line.Construction was...
(1845), docks for Holyhead
Holyhead
Holyhead is the largest town in the county of Anglesey in the North Wales. It is also a major port adjacent to the Irish Sea serving Ireland....
and Porth Dinllaen in north Wales, which were competing for the Irish mail traffic (1846) and docks for Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
(1847). He then designed and built the Albert
Albert Bridge, Datchet
Albert Bridge is a road bridge in England running North/South between Datchet and Old Windsor. It crosses the River Thames on the reach between Old Windsor Lock and Romney Lock...
and Victoria Bridges
Victoria Bridge, Datchet
Victoria Bridge is a road bridge running North/South between Datchet and Windsor, Berkshire, England. It crosses the River Thames on the reach between Old Windsor Lock and Romney Lock...
in Datchet
Datchet
Datchet is an English Thameside village and civil parish situated in the unitary authority of Windsor and Maidenhead in the county of Berkshire. It was transferred to Berkshire from Buckinghamshire in 1974....
, with new roads between Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
and Frogmore
Frogmore
The Frogmore Estate or Gardens comprise of private gardens within the grounds of the Home Park, adjoining Windsor Castle, in the English county of Berkshire. The name derives from the preponderance of frogs which have always lived in this low-lying and marshy area.It is the location of Frogmore...
(1848–49). He also designed Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge over the River Thames between Westminster on the north side and Lambeth on the south side, in London, England....
(built between 1854 and 1862) and the first Chelsea Bridge
Chelsea Bridge
Chelsea Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames in west London, connecting Chelsea on the north bank to Battersea on the south bank. There have been two Chelsea Bridges, on the site of what was an ancient ford....
(opened 1858), and was responsible for the plans for the embankment and road on the stretch of the Thames between Vauxhall Bridge
Vauxhall Bridge
Vauxhall Bridge is a Grade II* listed steel and granite deck arch bridge in central London. It crosses the River Thames in a south–east north–west direction between Vauxhall on the south bank and Pimlico on the north bank...
and Battersea Bridge
Battersea Bridge
Battersea Bridge is a cast-iron and granite five-span cantilever bridge crossing the River Thames in London, England. It is situated on a sharp bend in the river, and links Battersea south of the river with Chelsea to the north...
(opened 1869). In 1870, addressing the Society of Arts, he put forward the idea of a submerged tube to act as a tunnel between England and France. Page died in Paris on 8 January 1877.