GEORGE DOUBLE

Born in Hadleigh 1840, died in 1916

George Double lived from 1891 onwards until his death at Kirby Lodge, Kirby Street, in the California Estate, Ipswich.

He was a bridge builder and built the steel girder bridge at Boxted in 1897, Wormingford Bridge around 1895, and Dedham bridge in 1900. He also built the new pier head on Clevedon Pier in 1893, and constructed Llandudno Pier in 1877. He must have had considerable experience as a bridge builder to have been brought into the construction of the new pier head at Clevedon Pier where they have the second highest tides in the world.

George Double was foreman for John Dixon, engineer, in charge of the men who raised Cleopatra’s Needle on the Embankment in 1877 and was employed by John Dixon for some years afterwards. (Information from Lucinda de Jasay of Boxted.) Below: Cleopatra’s Needle edges into place, 1877