Queenhithe Wharf, River Thames

Queenhithe Wharf was originally built as a present from King Alfred the Great to his brother-in-law Ethelred in 883AD. Interserve was asked by the Environment Agency to undertake works to preserve and strengthen the outer wall. 

All the repairs to the river wall had to be approved by English Heritage. We installed 418 mini-piles bored through the existing masonry blocks. These were designed to carry loads imposed by the tidal waters of the river and by the roadway to the rear of the wall, relieving the load carried by the masonry wall. The existing granite cobble setts had to be removed and set aside for the subsequent reinstatement of the road.

Once the piling was completed we constructed a concrete capping beam to tie the piles to the wall and built new drainage manholes and gullies. We also re-pointed the parapet wall to improve its appearance and prevent water ingress to the roadway during high tides, thus extending its residual life.

As part of the works Interserve replaced 20 timber rubbing strips and one timber King Post using timber sourced from the Environment Agency. These fenders showed signs of degradation and had to be replaced for both aesthetic and functional reasons.

Having completed the substantive works we reinstated the road with the existing granite cobbles setts before handing the wharf back to the Environment Agency.