Cross section showing workmen excavating the Thames Tunnel
Cross section showing the workmen excavating the Thames Tunnel protected by Brunel's patent shield. The idea of a tunnel between Rotherhithe and Wapping was suggested by the civil engineer Marc Brunel (1769-1849) in 1824. A Parliamentary Bill for the Thames Tunnel Company for Making and Maintaining a tunnel under the Thames was given Royal Assent in 1824, with work on the shaft at Rotherhithe beginning in March 1825. Two previous attempts at constructing a tunnel under the Thames had failed due to water ingress, but Marc Brunel's tunnel was to use his patented tunnelling shield. The shield provided support to the mining operation whilst the tunnel was encased securely in brickwork. It comprised a series of fixed and adjustable frames that inched forward at a rate of initially around eight feet per week as the tunnelling progressed. Engraving
Pick your License
1769-1849 1824 1825 1838 Adjustable Assent Attempts Brickwork Brunel Brunels Comprised Constructing Encased Excavating Failed Fixed Frames Idea Inched Ingress Initially Maintaining Parliamentary Patent Patented Previous Progressed Protected Provided Rate Rotherhithe Securely Shaft Suggested Tunnelling Wapping Whilst Workmen
Features In These Collections
> Contributors > GSO
