Progress of the Thames Tunnel under the Thames in 1838

Cross section showing the progress of the Thames Tunnel under the Thames in 1838, by Unknown. 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

1769-1849 1824 1825 1838 Adjustable Assent Attempts Brickwork Brunel Brunels Comprised Constructing Encased Failed Fixed Frames Idea Inched Ingress Initially Maintaining Parliamentary Patented Previous Progressed Provided Rate Rotherhithe Securely Shaft Suggested Tunnelling Wapping Whilst

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