The Thames Barrier

Thames Barrier

Flooding has been a concern for London since Roman times. After the devastating North Sea flood of 1953, the Waverley Committee recommended investigating ways to protect London from storm surges, including building a barrier across the Thames. Various designs were considered, from large sluice gates to underwater flap gates, but it wasn’t until the Greater London Council (GLC) took over in 1965 that serious plans began to take shape.

In 1966, Sir Hermann Bondi reviewed the situation and strongly recommended the construction of a barrier to prevent the potential catastrophe of flooding central London. A site at Woolwich was chosen for the project, and the barrier was designed to protect against storm surges caused by deep depressions in the North Sea. These surges could push water up the Thames Estuary, threatening to inundate 45 square miles of London, knocking out hospitals, power stations, and even the London Underground. Without the barrier, damage costs were estimated at £2 billion in 1966, around £50 billion in today’s money.

The innovative design for the barrier’s gates was created by Charles Drapeer, inspired by the taps on his gas cooker. The final design was tested at the Hydraulics Research Station in Wallingford, and a site at New Charlton was selected for construction due to the strength of the underlying river chalk.

In 1972, the Thames Barrier and Flood Prevention Act was passed, and work began in 1974. The barrier was built in two phases, diverting river traffic to allow construction. The gates, weighing 3,700 tonnes, were fabricated in Darlington and transported by barge to the Thames, where cranes lifted them into position. The first trial operation of the entire system took place on 31 October 1982.

The barrier was officially opened on 8 May 1984 by Queen Elizabeth II for £461 million (about £1.6 billion today).

In 2012, the annual full test closure coincided with the Thames pageant for the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.