File:Woolwich Foot Tunnel - geograph.org.uk - 398682.jpg

English: Woolwich Foot Tunnel This view was taken from the northern end looking down to the lowest point. There are 126 steps in the northern shaft - I know, I counted them.

The tunnel was opened on 26 October 1912, and was built to provide a more reliable connection between North and South Woolwich at a time when winter fogs caused disruption to the existing ferry service.

A contemporary newspaper article reported the event as follows:

"The tunnel was designed by and the work executed by Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice for London County Council. It consists of a cast-iron tube of 12 feet 8 inches outside diameter connecting two vertical shafts of 25 feet inside diameter and about 60 feet deep. The length between the shafts is 1,635 feet. The thickness of the river bed between the top of the tunnel and the river is about 10 feet at the deepest place. The shafts consist of steel caissons formed of two skins of steel plating, the annular space between them being filled with concrete. Both shafts were sunk by excavating inside them under compressed air. They are lined with brickwork, and in each there is a spiral staircase giving access to the tunnel from the street above. In the well of each staircase there is an electric lift capable of carrying 40 passengers. The tunnel was constructed by the "shield" method under compressed air. After it was completed from shaft to shaft it was lined throughout with concrete, upon which white glazed tiles are fixed. The footway is paved with York stone flags.

The construction of the north shaft was begun on 1 May 1910 and it was sunk to its final level in September 1910. Actual tunnelling work commenced on 1 December 1910 and finished in October 1911. The tender of the contractors, Messrs. Walter Scott and Middleton amounted to £78,860 7s 1d. The original scheme did not allow for provision of the lifts which were added afterwards for £5,000."