Entrance to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel under the Thames, running from close to the Cutty Sark to the Isle of Dogs. Built 1899-1902 to the plans of Sir Alexander Binnie (1839-1917), Chief Engineer to the London County Council (see "Obituary"), this pedestrian tunnel replaced the ferry that had been in service here ever since the seventeenth century. It was intended for the use of the dockers who were working in the West India Docks, but it is now in general use after extensive restoration and the installation of lifts in the twentieth century. It is 3.5 metres in diameter inside, and 379 metres long (Weinreb et al. 356).
The entrance dome from the river. Seen behind it is St Alfege's church, while to the left is the Cutty Sark, a popular tourist destination.
The interior of the tunnel.
Photographs by Colin Price, and commentary by Jacqueline Banerjee. You may use the images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or to the Victorian Web in a print document. [Click on the image to enlarge it.]
We would like to thank Dr Galen Royer Frysinger of DrGalenRoyerFrysinger.com, who provided the earlier (pre-renovation) image on this page from his own extensive website of travel photographs. — GPL
Links to related material
Bibliography
"Obituary" (1917) from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, reproduced in Grace's Guide. Web. 5 April 2022.
Weinreb, Ben, Christopher Hibbert, Julia Keay and John Keay. The London Encyclopaedia. 3rd ed. London: Macmillan, 2008.
Created 18 February 2008
Last modified 5 April 2022