"Photo of Bay between T2 and T3" at Slipway and Caisson support foundation T2 & T3 (82163)

A photo of The whole feature in one image.

By fixerp

05/08/2016 -The steel bridge would have been bolted to the concrete foundations at points B and the ends or feet would rest against the plates at points A (such that the concrete is not gouged). The steel plates that were mounted on top of the concrete block at points C were rests for the steel bridge to help spread the weight of the caisson evenly across the foundation. There are very few fixings (bolts) near the weight bearing steel plate which indicates that it was relatively easy to deconstruct the bridge prior to launch of the caisson. The metal tray shown at E may have been positioned to give some protection to a winch cable. (The tray is not load bearing since it is was produced in a short length – approx 2 metres). The compete launch slipway is likely to have been 8 massive steel box girders similar to those shown in the photo at stokes bay (under construction). The ‘straps’ attached to the girder were likely to be flexible anchor points which were possibly attached to the steel brackets (e.g. point D) mounted on concrete foundations.