British Ceylon

Sri Lanka,ශ්‍රී ලංකා,Ceylon,Steel Bridge 1916 British Engineered

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• published: 19 May 2011
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Bridge under supervision of G.H.M.Hyde,M.I.M.E., of the Government Factory who has supervised some of the most important public works in Ceylon during the past few years, has had a varied enginieering career.Starting his professional life in 1884 he served an apprenticeship with Messars T.Piggot & Co, Birmingham, and went through the drawing office, the pattern, smith,fitting and erecting shops and foundry of this large firm of manufacturers of horizontal and vertical engines,boilers,refrigerating machinery,gas and water apparatus.Upon the comletion of this training Mr Hide was given a position as draughtsman by the same firm, and being promoted to be assistant to the works manager a year later, he superintended the manufacture of serveral large gasometers,roof girder and bridge work etc. In 1892 Mr Hyde undertook the superintendence of the erection of plant for a large chemical works at Lostock Gralam Chesire, and in the following year he went to Colombo in the capacity of Chief Engineer of the Colombo Commercial Company, which employs between 300 and 400 men.Holding this position for 7 years, he designed and superintended the manufacture and erection of numerous iron factories, and the equipment of the same with machinery for the manufacture of tea, etc.the constructionof several aerial wire ropeways, and turbine installations for utilising the available water power on tea estates during this period.In the closing year of the nineteenth century Mr Hyde obtained at the hands of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the responsible position of Mechanical Engineer at the Government Factory at Colombo.This branch of the Public Works Department, of which Mr Hyde has complete control, constructs the iron work for roads and bridges, and erects all the new public buildings in Colombo.Among the works caried out during the first year of Mr Hyde's tenure of office were 230 iron buildings and other general works for the accomodation of the Boer prisoners of war at Diyatalawa and Ragama, two large wharf jetties, and a road bridge over the river Dandagamu.In the following two years Mr Hyde acted as Executive Officer, superintending the following important constructions, some of which have not yet been completed: a concrete quay wall 660ft long, a warf landing jetty 150ft long, the new Colombo Technical College, an eye Hospital in commemoration of her late Majesty Queen Victoria, and minor harbor improvements.Some idea of importance of the position which Mr Hyde has filled successfully during the past few years, undr Mr.E.C.Davies, Factory Engineer, and the Hon.Mr.F.A.Cooper,M.I.C.E.,C.M.G.,F.S.I.,M.A.M.C.E.,Director of Public Works, may be gathered from the fact that the public works which he supervised have cost, or at estimated cost, over a million and half rupees (100.000 Pounds) (source:"Twentieth century impressions of Ceylon: It's history, people, commerce.." By Arnold Wright, London, 1907.