Thanks to British Newspaper Archive we have discovered another fascinating detail in the life of George Double (1840-1916), builder of Boxted bridge.
In 1879 Double built the 146 foot swing bridge over the River Blyth, Suffolk, for the Southwold Railway Company. The bridge, an engineering feat which featured a pivoting span to allow boats to pass, connected the 8 3/4 mile narrow gauge (3 ft) single track railway line from Southwold to Halesworth. The Chairman of the company was Richard C Rapier, of Ransomes Rapier, Ipswich, a major manufacturer of railway equipment.
This line closed in 1929 the bridge remained until it was damaged so as not to allow enemy access in case of invasion. After the war a temporary Bailey Bridge was put in place and was eventually superseded by the present footbridge construction. The piers of the swingbridge can still be seen and were used as the basis for the present bridge.
Coincidentally, four years earlier, John Dixon, of Cleopatra's Needle fame, in connection with Richard Rapier, had got the concession for and made the first narrow gauge (2 ft 6in) railway in China from Shanghai to Woosun.
More details on George Double's work with John Dixon to follow!