Joah Haigh Walker (1875-1943) M.Inst.C.E., M.I.Mech.E., M.I.Struct.E.
Educated at Bradford Grammar Sch.
Studied at Leeds University.
Pupilage with County Surveyor of the North Riding of Yorkshire
Asst. Engr., G.W. Rly. and L.N.W. Rly.
Contractors' Agent with the Cleveland Bridge Eng. Co., Ltd.
Resident Engineer with the Port of London Authority
Patentee of rolling lift bridges as in use at Carmarthen, Waterford, Poole, Weymouth, etc.; nozzles for pneumatic handling of grain; light Goliath cranes, handling 5 and 10 tons, with spans up to 300 feet. Numerous patents for concrete roads, etc., such as reinforcement, rigid steel hoops, interlocked joints; light loading gear for lorries; brick-handling plant, etc.; sound-proof floors for flats; crack control of large concrete dams.
1944 Obituary [1]
JOAH HAIGH WALKER, whose death occurred on 21st April 1943, was for nearly twenty years chairman and managing director of Messrs. Walker Weston, Ltd., consulting engineers, of Westminster, specializing in bridge building and the construction of docks. He was responsible for many inventions related to lift bridges, pneumatic grain nozzles, reinforcement cableways, and other lifting appliances.
Mr. Walker was born in 1875 and educated at Leeds University, where he later became private assistant to Professor John Goodman, M.I.Mech.E. In 1894 he was articled to the surveyor of the North Riding of Yorkshire and on the completion of his articles, four years later, was appointed assistant engineer to the London and North Western and Great Western Joint Railways, which at that time were engaged on the construction of important new works, including the widening of the Chester and Birkenhead Railway and the enlargement of Shrewsbury station.
In 1902 he became contractor's engineer and agent to the Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Company, Ltd. He remained with that firm until 1912 when he received the appointment of resident engineer to the Port of London Authority. He resigned this position in 1924 and subsequently went into practice as a consultant.
Mr. Walker was elected a Member of the Institution in 1926. He was also a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers.