People Gallery

Red Lion Wharf JLP01_01_063_61

Red Lion Wharf, Northfleet, Gravesend, Gravesham, Kent. Laing workers preparing the dry dock at Red Lion Wharf, Gravesend, for the first phase in the construction of the cooling water intake caisson for Coryton Oil Refinery.
The first stages in the construction of the cooling water intake caisson were carried out at the Red Lion Wharf dry dock, Gravesend. Before work could begin, the site had to be prepared. A thick layer of mud which had been deposited by the tide was removed and the entrance to the dock was closed. On 30th November 1951, when the first construction phase was complete, the caisson was towed across the Thames to Tilbury Docks. Construction of the caisson was completed at Tilbury, and it was finally transported to Coryton in March 1952

© Historic England Archive. John Laing Photographic Collection

Barn Bank Lane bridge JLP01_08_059933

M6 Motorway, M6, Hyde Lea, Stafford, Staffordshire. A view of the construction of the Birmingham to Preston Motorway (M6), showing the first of the large post-tensioned beams being concreted in situ on Bridge 306 (Barn Bank Lane bridge).
In the album, the typed caption below the photograph reads Concrete being placed to the first of the large 95'-0" long, 70 Ton, post-tensioned beams on bridge 306/ (Barn Bank Lane). These are being cast on top of the abutments and piers due to handling difficulties of beams of this size. This particular beam has now been stressed and is self supporting across the span. This road bridge, which is located at SJ9211419999, opened in March 1962

© Historic England Archive. John Laing Photographic Collection

Opening ceremony JLP01_08_67247A

M6 Motorway, Knutsford Service Area, Knutsford, Tabley Superior, Cheshire East, Cheshire East. The Rt. Hon. Ernest Marples (facing the camera) in conversation with another man at the opening ceremony of a stretch of the M6 Motorway between North Staffordshire and Cheshire.
This photograph is from a batch which is recorded in the negative register as having been taken at Knutsford. However, in December 1963 in the Laing monthly newsletter Team Spirit, an article records that a short ceremony occurred at Keele Service area where a film was presented to the Chairman of Staffordshire County Council. This preceded the official opening, just over two hours later, of the Hanchurch-Lymm section of the M6 by the Rt. Hon. Ernest Marples. It also mentions that the minister had a tour of the motorway by coach. The opening ceremony is known to have occurred at Knutsford but some of the photographs may also have been taken at Keele

© Historic England Archive. John Laing Photographic Collection