Thames Tunnel Collection

Brunels tunnelling shield
The tunnelling shield, or excavating machine designed by Sir Marc Isambard Brunel (1769- 1849) & used in the construction of the lining of the Thames tunnel

View of the (proposed) western archway of the Thames Tunnel, London, c1831. The Thames Tunnel, connecting Wapping and Rotherhithe, was the first underwater tunnel in the world

Isambard Kingdom Brunel, civil engineer, c1850s
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, English engineer, c1850s. Brunel surrounded by vignettes of some of his most significant projects - the steamships Great Eastern, Great Britain

A train coming out of the Thames Tunnel at Wapping
5307878 A train coming out of the Thames Tunnel at Wapping.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a train coming out of the Thames Tunnel at Wapping)

Longitudinal section of Thames Tunnel 1826
GHL20200 Longitudinal section of Thames Tunnel 1826 by Schlick Benjamin (1796-1872); London Metropolitan Archives, City of London; © London Metropolitan Archives

The western archway of the Thames Tunnel
Hand coloured engraving by B. Dixie showing a view of the western archway of the Thames Tunnel. It is dedicated to William Smith, chairman of the Court of Directors of the Tunnel

The Thames Tunnel
A hand-coloured engraving of the Thames Tunnel, published in London in 1835 by Ackermann. T. T. Bury is the engraver and artist

Thames Tunnel Opening Advertisement
Advertisement for the opening of Marc Isambard Brunels Thames Tunnel to the public, with three sections of the tunnel, including a representation of the iron shield

A print of the plan showing the progress of the Thames Tunnel, 1840
A monochrome print of a plan showing the progress of the Thames Tunnel, 1840. It reads that 1100 feet has been completed on the 3rd March 1840

The Thames Tunnel, shield and brick layers, 1827
Sketches and memoranda of the work for the tunnel under the Thames from Rotherhithe to Wapping, from a publication by the Philanthropic Society 1827. Side view of the tunnel under construction

Print of Thames Tunnel Plan, 1842
Plan and longitudinal section of the Thames Tunnel, London, 1842. Coloured print. The Thames Tunnel, connecting Wapping and Rotherhithe, was the first underwater tunnel in the world

Sir Marc Brunel portrait
Seated portrait of Sir Marc Brunel, father of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Engraved by C. Turner, based on the painting by James Northcote

Staircase down which the procession descended (engraving)
609569 Staircase down which the procession descended (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Laying of the Memorial Stone of the New Tower Bridge by the Prince of Wales (engraving)
1062101 The Laying of the Memorial Stone of the New Tower Bridge by the Prince of Wales (engraving) by Brewer, Henry William (fl.1858-d.1903); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Thames tunnel (engraving)
602456 The Thames tunnel (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: General view of the Thames Tunnel, from the circular staircase)

The Thames Tunnel as a railway (engraving)
602465 The Thames Tunnel as a railway (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Thames Tunnel as a railway, beneath River Thames, London)

The Thames Tunnel, Open to the Public Every Day (engraving)
609607 The Thames Tunnel, Open to the Public Every Day (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Thames Tunnel, Open to the Public Every Day)

The Thames Tunnel, showing its route under the Thames (engraving)
609606 The Thames Tunnel, showing its route under the Thames (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Thames Tunnel)

The tunnel under the River Thames (engraving)
609581 The tunnel under the River Thames (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The tunnel under the River Thames)

Thames Tunnel - anniversary fetes (engraving)
609565 Thames Tunnel - anniversary fetes (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Thames Tunnel - anniversary fetes; from The Illustrated News of the World)

Entrance to the Thames Tunnel (engraving)
1616937 Entrance to the Thames Tunnel (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Entrance to the Thames Tunnel)

The Thames Tunnel, as it appeared when originally opened for traffic (engraving)
3636301 The Thames Tunnel, as it appeared when originally opened for traffic (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Thames Tunnel)

The Thames tunnel (coloured engraving)
602460 The Thames tunnel (coloured engraving) by Tombleson, William (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: General view of the Thames Tunnel, beneath the River Thames)

The Royal Thames Tunnel Paper (engraving)
609582 The Royal Thames Tunnel Paper (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Royal Thames Tunnel Paper)

Strong symptoms of water on the brain (engraving)
609578 Strong symptoms of water on the brain (engraving) by Hasenpflug, Carl Georg Adolph (1802-58); Private Collection; (add.info)

Sir Mark Isambard Brunel (1769-1849) c. 1835 (oil on canvas) (b&w photo)
XJF115857 Sir Mark Isambard Brunel (1769-1849) c.1835 (oil on canvas) (b&w photo) by Drummond, Samuel (1765-1844); 127x101.6 cm; National Portrait Gallery, London

Sir Isambard Brunel retiring from the tunnel amidst the cheers of the company (engraving)
609571 Sir Isambard Brunel retiring from the tunnel amidst the cheers of the company (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The opening of the Thames Tunnel; Rotherhithe entrace to the tunnel (engraving)
609570 The opening of the Thames Tunnel; Rotherhithe entrace to the tunnel (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Fancy Fair in the Thames Tunnel (engraving)
609564 The Fancy Fair in the Thames Tunnel (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Fancy Fair in the Thames Tunnel; from Historic Times)

Rotherhithe Tunnel (photo)
602463 Rotherhithe Tunnel (photo) by English Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Postcard with an image of horse-drawn carriages passing through the Rotherhithe Tunnel)

A little insect and a great idea (litho)
976590 A little insect and a great idea (litho) by Brock, Charles Edmund (1870-1938) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: A little insect and a great idea)

Landing of the Queen and the Coburg Family at the Tunnel Pier (engraving)
1100674 Landing of the Queen and the Coburg Family at the Tunnel Pier (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Treasury, The Tower, The Admiralty, Somerset House, The Mint, Thames Tunnel, Westminster Hall, Temple Bar
5210078 The Treasury, The Tower, The Admiralty, Somerset House, The Mint, Thames Tunnel, Westminster Hall, Temple Bar, Houses of Parliament (engraving) by English School

Railway through the Thames Tunnel (engraving)
1099284 Railway through the Thames Tunnel (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Railway through the Thames Tunnel)

Thames Tunnel, Western Archway (engraving)
3655747 Thames Tunnel, Western Archway (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Thames Tunnel, Western Archway)

Thames Tunnel, Rotherhithe (engraving)
1108426 Thames Tunnel, Rotherhithe (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Thames Tunnel, Rotherhithe)

Diving-Bell used in the construction of the Thames Tunnel (engraving)
3637074 Diving-Bell used in the construction of the Thames Tunnel (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Brunel and a section of the Thames Tunnel (coloured engraving)
602462 Brunel and a section of the Thames Tunnel (coloured engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Coloured view of the strata of earth through which the tunnel passes (coloured engraving)
609608 Coloured view of the strata of earth through which the tunnel passes (coloured engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Tunnel, or, Another Bubble Burst; cartoon (coloured engraving)
609601 The Tunnel, or, Another Bubble Burst; cartoon (coloured engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Tunnel, or)

Design for a roadway under the Thames (engraving)
609583 Design for a roadway under the Thames (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Thames Tunnel (coloured engraving)
609573 The Thames Tunnel (coloured engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Thames Tunnel); Look and Learn / Peter Jackson Collection; English

The opening of the Thames Tunnel; The architects levee (engraving)
609572 The opening of the Thames Tunnel; The architects levee (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Diving Bell used at the Thames Tunnel (engraving)
602464 The Diving Bell used at the Thames Tunnel (engraving) by Stanfield, William Clarkson (1793-1867); Private Collection; (add.info)

Relative Positions of the Thames Tunnel and the River (engraving)
665326 Relative Positions of the Thames Tunnel and the River (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Relative Positions of the Thames Tunnel and the River)

The Thames Tunnel (engraving)
1616949 The Thames Tunnel (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Thames Tunnel. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 1 April 1843)

Thames Tunnel, from the Circular Staircase, London (engraving)
3649087 Thames Tunnel, from the Circular Staircase, London (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Thames Tunnel, from the Circular Staircase, London)

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"The Thames Tunnel: A Marvel of Engineering and Ingenuity" Step into the world of Victorian engineering as we explore the remarkable story behind the iconic Thames Tunnel. Designed by father-son duo Sir Marc Isambard Brunel and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, this tunnel revolutionized underground construction techniques. The tunnelling shield, a groundbreaking invention by Marc Brunel, allowed workers to excavate under the riverbed while being protected from potential collapses. This ingenious device paved the way for future tunneling projects worldwide. In 1826, a longitudinal section of the Thames Tunnel showcased its ambitious design. The proposed western archway captivated Londoners' imaginations with its grandeur and scale. It was an architectural feat that would forever change transportation in the city. By 1831, progress on the tunnel was evident as depicted in a captivating view of its western archway. The intricate brick layers worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life beneath London's bustling streets. Fast forward to 1840 when an advertisement announced the opening of the Thames Tunnel – a momentous occasion celebrated by thousands who flocked to witness this engineering marvel firsthand. As they descended into darkness, they marveled at how man had conquered nature itself. A print from 1842 showcases not only how far construction had come but also highlights ongoing improvements made within this subterranean masterpiece. It serves as a testament to human perseverance and innovation during challenging times. This historic undertaking wouldn't have been possible without Sir Marc Brunel's visionary leadership or his son Isambard Kingdom Brunel's exceptional talent as a civil engineer. Their portraits capture their dedication and brilliance that propelled them into legendary status among their peers. Today, we can still admire remnants of their legacy through visits to what remains of the Thames Tunnel – an enduring symbol of human achievement against all odds. Step back in time and appreciate these pioneers who dared to dream big beneath our feet.