From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The Woolwich foot tunnel is a tunnel crossing under the River Thames in east London from Woolwich in the London Borough of Greenwich to North Woolwich in the London Borough of Newham.
The tunnel was constructed for London County Council and opened in 1912. In many respects it is very similar to the nearby Greenwich foot tunnel, being accessed by lifts and stairs from buildings featuring glass domes. This tunnel too is glazed with white tiles (although many have unfortunately been defaced).
Its creation owed much to the efforts of working-class politician Will Crooks who had worked in the docks and, after chairing the LCC's Bridges Committee responsible for the tunnel, would later serve as Labour MP for Woolwich.
The tunnel offers pedestrians an alternative way to cross the river when the Woolwich Ferry service is not operating (one ferry paddle-steamer (1930-1963) was named after Crooks).
