Thomas Meik

Who was Thomas Meik?

Thomas Meik was a British engineer, born in Duddingston, Midlothian.

Particularly associated with ports and railways in Scotland and northern England, Meik fathered two prominent engineering sons: Patrick Meik and Charles Meik. The firm they founded remains active, though it is today known as Halcrow Group Limited, taking its name from Sir William Halcrow, who joined the company in the early years of the 20th century.

After attending the University of Edinburgh, Thomas Meik was apprenticed to John Steedman, an engineer and contractor who was working in Glasgow on the Hutcheson Bridge.

His first long-term post was as assistant engineer to William Chadwell Mylne of the New River Company, London. In 1845, at the age of 33, Meik was appointed engineer to the River Wear Commission. In 1859, the commission took over the construction of the Hendon Dock on the south side of the Wear, and Meik was responsible for the entire works. Just a few miles further north, he was also consulting engineer to Blyth Harbour from 1862.