1860 Fortress foils London's unwelcome visitors

摘要

These days, when we discuss the threat posed by the river Thames, we tend to be talking about flooding. Back in the early days of The Engineer, London feared a far more tangible foe: the foreign naval forces that might use the river to attack the capital.rnReporting on a meeting at the 'London Tavern' that discussed 'the best means for securing efficient protection to the great interests and immense wealth of the metropolitan district', The Engineer broached a proposal for an 'impregnable iron fortress'. 'A model and several drawings, plans and sections of Mr JW Hall's fortress, to be erected if approved of at the Nore, were exhibited,' reads the article.