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The Shadwell Basin Bascule Bridges
View of the Glamis Road bridge with Canary Wharf in the background.
A prominent feature of Shadwell Basin are the steel bascule bridges which at one time could be raised when the dock was in use to allow ships to enter from the Thames and to move into the Eastern Basin (now Wapping Wood) or move on to the Western Basin (now filled in and containing houses, except for a narrow canal along its southern edge).
The bridges on Glamis Road and Garnet Street to the east and west of the dock respectively have been restored as static bridges, but all their working parts remain intact.
In use they required relatively little power as the roadway span was balanced by a large ballast tank allowing the bridge to tip up on its end, rolling along a keyed track in the roadway.
The Glamis Road bascule bridge showing the rolling 'heel' and track. (Looking south towards Wapping Wall, the Pumping Station and the Prospect of Whitby pub.)
The Garnet Street bascule bridge. (Looking southeast)
