Development of long-span iron roof structures in Britain

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to stimulate a wider interest in the built heritage of industrial Britain amongst civil engineers. Britain has a greater number and variety of iron roofs than found anywhere else in the world. From the tentative iron roofs over the attic workrooms of the first iron-framed factories, this paper traces the development of greater spans using arch and truss forms to meet the needs of a diverse range of building types, among which the railway station passenger train shed is most significant. The confused issue of design and construction responsibilities for some of the great roofs of the nineteenth century is partially unravelled. The paper shows how innovations in iron roofing were at first introduced by a handful of structural ironwork contractors, further advances being made by a small group of specialist engineers expert in the analysis, design and detailing of structural works in iron.