The life and times of Edward Cruttwell, the first Superintending Engineer of Tower Bridge.
Edward Cruttwell (full name George Edward Wilson Cruttwell) was born in 1857 in Somerset, son of Wilson Clement Cruttwell and Georgina Daniel. They were a wealthy family and lived in a house called West Hill in Frome where the censuses show that they had many servants. Edward was one of eleven children, five of whom died before the age of 31.
Cruttwell’s family’s privilege and his own thirst for knowledge led him to study at the prestigious institutions of Clifton College and King’s College London. It was during these formative years that Cruttwell’s passion for engineering was ignited, setting the stage for his remarkable career ahead.
In 1878, he was apprenticed to Robert Pearson Brereton. Brereton was an English railway engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s number two and the one who completed many of Brunel’s projects after his death.
Cruttwell worked for Brereton for a few years before getting the opportunity to join the firm with Sir John Wolfe Barry and Henry Marc Brunel. He worked for them for some years in their offices and residence at Brunel’s family home, 17–18 Duke Street, Westminster (later 21–23 Delahay Street).
Cruttwell was a young man – only 28 years old – when he was appointed to manage the works on Tower Bridge. He had previously worked on Blackfriars Bridge, and his talent earned him the important position on this exciting new project.
Tower Bridge, with its imposing towers and intricate machinery, captured the imagination of Londoners and visitors alike, emerging as an iconic symbol of the city’s grandeur. Cruttwell’s meticulous planning and unwavering leadership were instrumental in bringing this engineering marvel to life, leaving an indelible mark on the cityscape and the annals of engineering history.
When Tower Bridge was opened, Cruttwell was employed by Bridge House Estates as the Resident Engineer on Tower Bridge, a post for which he was paid £500 per year. He would remain in this role until 1897 when the role of Engineer was merged with that of Bridge Master.
He did, however, keep the position of Consulting Engineer to Tower Bridge until his death in 1933.
He won a contract with Bridge House Estates for the widening of New London Bridge (1831-1976) from 53ft 5in to 65ft, to cope with increased passenger and vehicle traffic. The project was achieved without ever closing the Bridge!
At the same time, he was appointed Engineer to Southwark and London Bridges which were also managed by Bridge House Estates.
Cruttwell was nominated for membership of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1898.
His ambitions led him to embark on ventures across the globe. In 1901, he won the first prize of £1,000 for the best design for what would ultimately be called Sydney Harbour Bridge, although his design was not proceeded with for financial, design and political reasons.
Cruttwell was responsible for various docks and harbour projects, other bridges and surveyed over 600 miles of canals and waterways for the Royal Commission on Canals and Waterways.
On the death of Sir John Wolfe Barry in 1918, Cruttwell became the Senior Partner at Sir John Wolfe Barry & Partners, leading one of the most prestigious engineering firms. By the 1920s he was one of the leading Engineers of his day.
Cruttwell married Gwenydd Erskine, fifth daughter of Captain David Erskine, 92nd Gordon Highlanders, on 21 December 1893 at Bapchild, Kent.
Edward and Gwenydd Cruttwell had three sons. Their first son, Clement Henry, was born on 16 July 1896. Their second son, Patrick Erskine, was born on 28 June 1899; and their third, Colin Edward, on 19 March 1901.
The tumultuous currents of the Great Depression cast a shadow over Cruttwell’s later years, testing his mettle and resilience in the face of adversity.
Despite the financial upheavals that swept across the globe, his passion for engineering remained undimmed. While he may not have left behind a single iconic project like his illustrious contemporaries, Cruttwell’s pivotal role in Tower Bridge and numerous other endeavors cemented his place among the titans of his era.
His legacy endures as a testament to the power of human ingenuity and the enduring spirit of innovation.
Cruttwell died suddenly on 10 November 1933, leaving behind a family and a legacy.
Tower Bridge stands as a towering testament to his brilliance and a beacon of inspiration for generations to come.
Read about how his photographs of the opening of Tower Bridge came to light.
Discover the photographs