Dublin Port Chief Engineers

The second half of the nineteenth century and the early years of the following century witnessed a great expansion in world trade and demands by shipping companies for secure deep-water berthage in the major ports that could no longer be ignored. Drawing from the Dublin Port Archive, Dr Ronald Cox explores the lives and great contributions of two of Dublin Port’s Chief Engineers, Bindon Blood Stoney and John Purser Griffith, who made Dublin Port the national asset that it is today. Documenting their roles at the forefront of Irish Engineering, Cox reflects on their impact on the construction and history of the port itself; From the revolutionary Diving Bell that allowed the construction of the bridges and quay walls to the reconstruction of the north and south quays and modern dredging operations. As Chief Port Engineer, Bindon Blood Stoney paved the way for the acceleration of engineering work, leading to the creation of a modern deep-water port to serve an expanding economy. He was heavily involved in directing all the engineering work in the port, including the rebuilding of two of the major bridges spanning the river Liffey. John Purser Griffith served as assistant engineer to Bindon Blood Stoney at Dublin Port, before taking over as Engineer-in-Chief in 1898. During his time at the port, Purser Griffith was responsible for the introduction of an extensive system of dredging and land reclamation, and the electrification of the port. During the course of a long career in the port and as an independent consulting engineer, he made a major contribution to the engineering profession and to the development of the Irish nation.