Brunel's Other Bridge

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Brunel Swivel Bridge Historic Photos

1825. Underfall Yard takes its name from the underfall sluices. The original construction by Jessop was between 1804 and 1809 with revisions by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in the 1830s.	c 1860. Jessops north entrance lock (left) and Brunel's south entrance lock (right) which was constructed 1844-49 to accommodate larger vessels. In 1864 Thomas Howard was requested to prepare proposals for the improvement of dock entrances and approaches. This included a new junction lock, 60' wide offering an improved angle of entry to the floating harbour (entered near Merchants Dock) a new entrance lock, 60' wide and 3' deeper at the sills than the existing one to be situated further downstream, opposite Rownham to have an easier line of approach The locks each 350' long and 62' wide with depth at the sill of 38' were both in commission by 1873. A replica bridge to the Brunel bridge was placed over the south entrance lock (which was subsequently only used as an emergency standby and a steamer landing stage constructed in 1894 in the entrance) and Brunel's Swivel bridge across Jessops lock shortened and moved to Howards new north entrance lock in 1872-3
1900. Re-aligned dock. Brunel's bridge in use on the left hand side, fixed replica on the right.
Bonded warehouses not built yet	1908. Bonded warehouses in position (A bond built 1903-6, B Bond 1906-8)
1959	cross section of 1879 replica bridge placed over south entrance lock
Where else can you stand and see 3 generations of swing bridges? 1925 Lysaght bridge on Merchants Road in the background	And if you look behind the Records Office you can see a 1906 Lysaght doubledecker swing bridge, now sadly without top deck and looking sorry for itself

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