A proposal for a Thames tunnel, circa 1876

The present picture is thought to represent one of the many proposals that the City Corporation considered for the new Thames crossing, from 1876. Over 50 schemes were submitted, with the proposal for a bridge - which ultimately resulted in the present Tower bridge - finally winning. The scheme depicted in the painting, would have been very expensive, given both the costs associated with tunnelling and the massive sets of hydraulic lifting platforms at either end. It is likely the stone gothic lift towers were intended to blend in with the Tower of London's architecture.

John Standfield was a member of the Institute of Civil Engineers and in 1874 went into business with Josiah Latimer Clark as hydraulic and canal engineers.