John Edward Errington
Encyclopedia
John Edward Errington was an English
civil engineer
, particularly noted for his work on railway construction in the United Kingdom.
, Northumberland -, was born at Hull
on 29 December 1804. At an early age he was placed with an engineer officer then conducting extensive public works in Ireland
. After a time he became assistant to Mr. Padley in the surveys which he made in the early stages of railways in England. This employment brought him into connection with Mr. Rastick, C.E., by whom he was engaged to help in the preparation of the plans for the Birmingham
end of the Grand Junction Railway
. At this period he first met Joseph Locke
.
When the Grand Junction railway came under the sole direction of Locke, he gave Errington an appointment as resident engineer, and entrusted to him the superintendence of the construction of a portion of the line. After the completion of that railway in 1837, he took charge of the line from Glasgow
by Paisley
to Greenock
, and in 1841 laid out and constructed the harbour works of the latter seaport. In 1843, in conjunction with Locke, he made the plans for the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway
, the works on which were carried out under his sole charge.
He also constructed the Caledonian Railway
, 1848, the Clydesdale Junction Railway
, the Scottish Central Railway
, the Scottish Midland Junction Railway
, and the Aberdeen Railway
; and he either brought forward or was consulted about the entire system of railways from Lancaster
to Inverness
.
After the commencement of the larger works in Scotland he removed to London
, and devoted his attention to the various additions and branches made to the railways constructed under his own and Locke's superintendence. He joined the Institution of Civil Engineers
as an associate in 1831, and became a member on 22 January 1839; he was a member of the council in 1850, and a vice-president 1861–2, and bequeathed £1,000 to the institution.
During his career he was engaged in various parliamentary contests, when the conscientious and clear manner in which he gave his evidence had always great weight with the committees. He endeavoured to make railways commercially successful, and at the same time to combine elegance with strength and economy of design. His bridges on the Lancaster and Carlisle and the Caledonian railways, and those across the Thames at Richmond
, Kew and Kingston
, show his success.
Latterly he was appointed engineer to the London and South Western Railway Company, and his plan for the line from Yeovil
to Exeter
was accepted in 1856. The works were immediately commenced, and after great difficulties, owing to the heavy tunnels at Crewkerne
and Honiton
, the line was opened in 1860. Several branches of this line were also constructed under his direction.
After the completion of this work his health failed, and he died at his residence, 6 Pall Mall East, London, on 4 July 1862, aged 57, and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery
, in close proximity to his friend and associate, Locke.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
, particularly noted for his work on railway construction in the United Kingdom.
Biography
Errington, eldest son of Captain John Errington and Harriet - of the gentry branch of Walwick GrangeWalwick Grange
Walwick Grange is a privately owned 18th century country house situated on the bank of the River North Tyne close to Hadrians Wall at Warden, Northumberland. It is a Grade II* listed building....
, Northumberland -, was born at Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
on 29 December 1804. At an early age he was placed with an engineer officer then conducting extensive public works in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. After a time he became assistant to Mr. Padley in the surveys which he made in the early stages of railways in England. This employment brought him into connection with Mr. Rastick, C.E., by whom he was engaged to help in the preparation of the plans for the Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
end of the Grand Junction Railway
Grand Junction Railway
The Grand Junction Railway was an early railway company in the United Kingdom, which existed between 1833 and 1846 when it was merged into the London and North Western Railway...
. At this period he first met Joseph Locke
Joseph Locke
Joseph Locke was a notable English civil engineer of the 19th century, particularly associated with railway projects...
.
When the Grand Junction railway came under the sole direction of Locke, he gave Errington an appointment as resident engineer, and entrusted to him the superintendence of the construction of a portion of the line. After the completion of that railway in 1837, he took charge of the line from Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
by Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
to Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
, and in 1841 laid out and constructed the harbour works of the latter seaport. In 1843, in conjunction with Locke, he made the plans for the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway
Lancaster and Carlisle Railway
The Lancaster and Carlisle Railway was a British railway company authorised on 6 June 1844 to build a line between Lancaster and Carlisle in North-West England...
, the works on which were carried out under his sole charge.
He also constructed the Caledonian Railway
Caledonian Railway
The Caledonian Railway was a major Scottish railway company. It was formed in the early 19th century and it was absorbed almost a century later into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, in the 1923 railway grouping, by means of the Railways Act 1921...
, 1848, the Clydesdale Junction Railway
Clydesdale Junction Railway
The Clydesdale Junction Railway was a railway company in Scotland that was formed to run trains between Rutherglen and Motherwell, North Lanarkshire.- History :It received its Royal Assent on 31 July 1845....
, the Scottish Central Railway
Scottish Central Railway
The Scottish Central Railway was formed in 1845 to link the Caledonian Railway near Castlecary to the Scottish Midland Junction Railway at Perth...
, the Scottish Midland Junction Railway
Scottish Midland Junction Railway
The Scottish Midland Junction Railway was authorised on 31 July 1845 to link Scottish Central Railway at Perth to the Aberdeen Railway at Forfar. It opened on 4 August 1848, having incorporated the Newtyle, Eassie and Glamiss Railway and Newtyle and Coupar Angus Railway between Coupar Angus and...
, and the Aberdeen Railway
Aberdeen Railway
The Aberdeen Railway was a railway that ran mainly along the North East coast of Scotland south from Aberdeen to on the Arbroath and Forfar Railway. There were branches to Montrose and Brechin...
; and he either brought forward or was consulted about the entire system of railways from Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
to Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
.
After the commencement of the larger works in Scotland he removed to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and devoted his attention to the various additions and branches made to the railways constructed under his own and Locke's superintendence. He joined the Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Civil Engineers
Founded on 2 January 1818, the Institution of Civil Engineers is an independent professional association, based in central London, representing civil engineering. Like its early membership, the majority of its current members are British engineers, but it also has members in more than 150...
as an associate in 1831, and became a member on 22 January 1839; he was a member of the council in 1850, and a vice-president 1861–2, and bequeathed £1,000 to the institution.
During his career he was engaged in various parliamentary contests, when the conscientious and clear manner in which he gave his evidence had always great weight with the committees. He endeavoured to make railways commercially successful, and at the same time to combine elegance with strength and economy of design. His bridges on the Lancaster and Carlisle and the Caledonian railways, and those across the Thames at Richmond
Richmond Railway Bridge
Richmond Railway Bridge in Richmond, south-west London crosses the River Thames immediately upstream of Twickenham Bridge. It carries National Rail services operated by South West Trains from London Waterloo to Reading, and lies between Richmond and St. Margarets stations.After the railway came to...
, Kew and Kingston
Kingston Railway Bridge
Kingston Railway Bridge crosses the River Thames near Kingston upon Thames, England carrying the South West Trains looping branch line from London Waterloo to Shepperton and Richmond. It was first discussed in 1860 and completed in 1863. The bridge links Kingston and Hampton Wick stations, and...
, show his success.
Latterly he was appointed engineer to the London and South Western Railway Company, and his plan for the line from Yeovil
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...
to Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
was accepted in 1856. The works were immediately commenced, and after great difficulties, owing to the heavy tunnels at Crewkerne
Crewkerne
Crewkerne is a town in Somerset, England, situated south west of Yeovil and east of Chard in the South Somerset district close to the border with Dorset. The civil parish of West Crewkerne includes the hamlets of Woolminstone and Henley...
and Honiton
Honiton
Honiton is a town and civil parish in East Devon, situated close to the River Otter, north east of Exeter in the county of Devon. The town's name is pronounced in two ways, and , each pronunciation having its adherents...
, the line was opened in 1860. Several branches of this line were also constructed under his direction.
After the completion of this work his health failed, and he died at his residence, 6 Pall Mall East, London, on 4 July 1862, aged 57, and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in Kensal Green, in the west of London, England. It was immortalised in the lines of G. K. Chesterton's poem The Rolling English Road from his book The Flying Inn: "For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen; Before we go to Paradise by way of...
, in close proximity to his friend and associate, Locke.