Place    From 1825 

Brunel's Thames Tunnel

Categories: Engineering, Transport

The first tunnel in the world under a navigable river. Built between 1825 and 1843 using the tunnelling shield technology invented by Marc Brunel. It was originally intended to be used for horse-drawn traffic, but this never materialised. It was briefly profitable since it attracted tourist pedestrians so shops and entertainment were provided in the tunnel. It is now the link between Rotherhithe and Wapping stations on the London Overgound rail network. Not to be confused with the Rotherhithe Tunnel - used for road traffic.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Brunel's Thames Tunnel

Commemorated ati

Brunel's Engine House

Brunel's engine house The tunnel shaft and pumping house for Marc Brunel's tu...

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Isambard Kingdom Brunel - Thames Tunnel flooding

Near this spot in 1828 Isambard Kingdom Brunel was pulled half-drowned from t...

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Thames Tunnel Boiler House

Boiler House, this building was originally used as a boiler house during the ...

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Thames Tunnel - Rotherhithe

International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark Thames Tunnel constructed 1...

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Thames Tunnel - Wapping

The tunnel which runs under the Thames from this station was the first tunnel...

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Royal Brass Foundry

Royal Brass Foundry

The Woolwich riverfront had been used as a dockyard and arms store for decades so having the foundry here made sense. It's construction was in response to a fatal explosion at Bagley's Foundry, jus...

Building, Armed Forces, Engineering

2 memorials
Sir William Heerlein Lindley

Sir William Heerlein Lindley

Civil engineer. Born at 50 Ferdinand Strasse, Hamburg. Worked with his father William Lindley on a number of engineering projects, including the Warsaw waterworks and the sewerage system in Prague,...

Person, Engineering, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Poland

1 memorial
Herbert Gifford Harvey

Herbert Gifford Harvey

Junior Assistant 2nd Engineer on the RMS Titanic. A full résumé of his life can be found on the Encyclopedia Titanica website.  He is also commemorated on the Engineers Memorial, Andrews East Park...

Person, Armed Forces, Engineering, Tragedy, Ireland

1 memorial
Brunel's Engine House

Brunel's Engine House

The engine house was designed by Marc Brunel to be part of the infrastructure of his Thames tunnel. It held steam-powered pumps used to extract water from the excavations. Since 1961 the building h...

Building, Engineering

1 memorial

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Sir Richard Westmacott

Sir Richard Westmacott

Sculptor. Born Grosvenor Square. One of the Commissioners for the Great Exhibition. His son, with the same name was also a successful sculptor.  Died at home at 14 South Audley Street.

Person, Sculpture

10 memorials