Tunnelling Collection

A Miner Success by Bruce Bairnsfather, WW1 cartoon
" They must ave ad some good news or somethin, Alf; you can ear em cheerin quite plain." Two British Tommies, Bill and Alf

Mine and Countermine by Heath Robinson
A tunnelling stand off between a British and German soldier with the German soldier eventually burrowing so deeply he falls out of the other side of the world. Date: 1915

Women packing dynamite cartridges, 1888. Explosives factory at, Val Bormida, near Cengio, North West Italy
538432 Women packing dynamite cartridges, 1888. Explosives factory at, Val Bormida, near Cengio, North West Italy. From La Nature, Paris, 1888. Engraving

Section of Thames Tunnel (1825-1843) showing men at work in shield (right) while others take away spoil
530612 Section of Thames Tunnel (1825-1843) showing men at work in shield (right) while others take away spoil. Picture also shows construction of arched masonry lining using Roman cement behind

Shield used during digging of Thames Tunnel (1825-1843) which allowed 12 men to excavate simultaneously
530613 Shield used during digging of Thames Tunnel (1825-1843) which allowed 12 men to excavate simultaneously. Patent for this first tunnelling shield taken out by Marc Isambart Brunel in 1818

Nitroglycerin processing plant, explosives factory, Val Bormida, near Cengio, North West Italy, 1888
538429 Nitroglycerin processing plant, explosives factory, Val Bormida, near Cengio, North West Italy, 1888. From La Nature, Paris, 1888

Les specialistes dans la bataille: Pionniers et Sapeurs; La vie souterraine: construction... 1916
Les specialistes dans la bataille: Pionniers et Sapeurs; La vie souterraine: construction d'une galerie, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVIII

Les specialistes dans la bataille: Pionniers et Sapeurs; La Sape. Bas-relief par le... 1916. Creator: L'Homme
Les specialistes dans la bataille: Pionniers et Sapeurs; La Sape. Bas-relief par le sculpteur L'Homme, mobilise comme sapeur, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV

The Metropolitan Railway and the Fleet Ditch, 1862. Creator: JM Williams
The Metropolitan Railway and the Fleet Ditch, [London], 1862. In a few months Paddington will be joined to the City by a new thoroughfare...This line has a width of nearly thirty feet

British engineers mining at Messines Ridge (blown)
British engineers mining at Messines Ridge (blown up on 7th June, 1917) during the First World War

Sappers tunnelling at Hill 60, Ypres, - WW1
Sappers tunnelling at Hill 60, Ypres, during the First World War

Tunnelling for the London Underground Railway Date: 1923

The Proposed Channel Tunnel, the Works at Sangatte (engraving)
1059346 The Proposed Channel Tunnel, the Works at Sangatte (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Proposed Channel Tunnel, the Works at Sangatte)

Commendatore Grattoni, Engineer of the Mont Cenis Tunnel (engraving)
1625923 Commendatore Grattoni, Engineer of the Mont Cenis Tunnel (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Commendatore Grattoni)

The Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings Railway, opened to Lewes (engraving)
1101944 The Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings Railway, opened to Lewes (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings Railway)

The tunnelling machine (engraving)
2788410 The tunnelling machine (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The tunnelling machine. Illustration for The Leisure Hour (1872)

Working on the metropolitan, Paris, illustration from Le Petit Journal
REV287775 Working on the metropolitan, Paris, illustration from Le Petit Journal: Supplement illustre, 14th May 1899 (colour litho) by Meaulle, F.L

Making the tunnel at Place de Roubaix for the Metro Station at the Gare du Nord, Ligne 5
CHT274986 Making the tunnel at Place de Roubaix for the Metro Station at the Gare du Nord, Ligne 5, 7th May 1906 (b/w photo) by French Photographer

Building the Bow and Victoria Park sewer, illustration from The King
KAT324414 Building the Bow and Victoria Park sewer, illustration from The King, June 1st 1901 (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

The Channel Tunnel Works at Dover (engraving)
1623871 The Channel Tunnel Works at Dover (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Channel Tunnel Works at Dover)

Three divisions of the shield of the Thames Tunnel 1825
Section of the three divisions of the shield of the Thames Tunnel in 1825, using Marc Isambard Brunels and Thomas Cochranes newly invented tunnelling shield technology. Date: 1825

Longitudinal section of Thames Tunnel 1825
First of the construction took part in 1825, hundred and fifty feet under the River Thames. Date: 1825

The New Railway up Mount Pilatus, Switzerland (engraving)
1041542 The New Railway up Mount Pilatus, Switzerland (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The New Railway up Mount Pilatus, Switzerland)

Excavating tube railway 1903
Under construction, workers in the shield, Great Northern and City Railway. 1903

Proposed Tunnel between England and France (engraving)
1609335 Proposed Tunnel between England and France (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Proposed Tunnel between England and France)

Great Blast on the London and Dover Railway (engraving)
1616810 Great Blast on the London and Dover Railway (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Great Blast on the London and Dover Railway)

Completion of the St Gothard Tunnel, Meeting of Workmen from the Airolo and Goschenen Sides, in Centre of Tunnel
1613911 Completion of the St Gothard Tunnel, Meeting of Workmen from the Airolo and Goschenen Sides, in Centre of Tunnel, Sunday Morning, 29 February, Nine am (engraving) by Overend

A Tragic Episode Happened On The 14th Corr Among The Italian Workers In The Works Of Sempione (colour litho)
2798244 A Tragic Episode Happened On The 14th Corr Among The Italian Workers In The Works Of Sempione (colour litho) by Beltrame

The Works On The Simplon Tunnel, In The Bowels Of The Mount (colour litho)
2798198 The Works On The Simplon Tunnel, In The Bowels Of The Mount (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Works On The Simplon Tunnel)

Building the Bow and Victoria Park sewer, illustration from The King
KAT324416 Building the Bow and Victoria Park sewer, illustration from The King, June 1st 1901 (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

At Work inside the Shield (engraving)
1036979 At Work inside the Shield (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: At Work inside the Shield)

The New Overland Route to India and the Railway Tunnel of the Alps (engraving)
1103810 The New Overland Route to India and the Railway Tunnel of the Alps (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The New Overland Route to India and the Railway Tunnel of the Alps (engraving)
1103809 The New Overland Route to India and the Railway Tunnel of the Alps (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Advanced Gallery on the French Side of the Mont Cenis Tunnel
STC188689 The Advanced Gallery on the French Side of the Mont Cenis Tunnel, with the Perforatrices at Work, from The Ascent of the Matterhorn by Edward Whymper

Sketches in the St Gothard Tunnel (engraving)
1613919 Sketches in the St Gothard Tunnel (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sketches in the St Gothard Tunnel)

Constructing the Simplon Tunnel, a Team of Oxen bringing up a Boiler (litho)
1598693 Constructing the Simplon Tunnel, a Team of Oxen bringing up a Boiler (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Constructing the Simplon Tunnel)

The Mersey Railway Tunnel, Plan and Section, and Works in Progress (engraving)
1590479 The Mersey Railway Tunnel, Plan and Section, and Works in Progress (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Mersey Railway Tunnel, Plan and Section)

Plan and Section of the Mont Cenis Tunnel (engraving)
1625925 Plan and Section of the Mont Cenis Tunnel (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Plan and Section of the Mont Cenis Tunnel)

Opening of the St Gothard Railway, Tunnels and Zigzag near Monte Piottino (engraving)
1624035 Opening of the St Gothard Railway, Tunnels and Zigzag near Monte Piottino (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Opening of the St Gothard Railway)

The St Gothard Railway Tunnel (engraving)
1624005 The St Gothard Railway Tunnel (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The St Gothard Railway Tunnel)

The Construction of the Simplon Tunnel (b / w photo)
1628972 The Construction of the Simplon Tunnel (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Construction of the Simplon Tunnel)

A Visit to the Channel Tunnel (engraving)
1060591 A Visit to the Channel Tunnel (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Visit to the Channel Tunnel)

View of the Shield in No 2 Shaft (engraving)
1036982 View of the Shield in No 2 Shaft (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: View of the Shield in No 2 Shaft)

The Railway Tunnel under the Mersey (engraving)
1044873 The Railway Tunnel under the Mersey (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Railway Tunnel under the Mersey)

Tunnelling drill (chromolitho)
977701 Tunnelling drill (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Tunnelling drill. French educational card, late 19th/early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

The Channel Tunnel at Dover, View from the Admiralty Pier, showing how the Tunnel is defended by Existing Works
1624127 The Channel Tunnel at Dover, View from the Admiralty Pier, showing how the Tunnel is defended by Existing Works (engraving) by English School

St Gothard Tunnel (engraving)
1624015 St Gothard Tunnel (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: St Gothard Tunnel. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 20 May 1882)

The Completion of the St Gothard Tunnel, 29 February 1880, the Meeting of the Workmen (engraving)
1045292 The Completion of the St Gothard Tunnel, 29 February 1880, the Meeting of the Workmen (engraving) by English School

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Tunnelling: Unveiling the Hidden Depths of Engineering and Warfare" Delving deep into history, we uncover the fascinating world of tunnelling. From Bruce Bairnsfather's iconic WW1 cartoon "A Miner Success" to Heath Robinson's whimsical depiction in "Mine and Countermine, " these illustrations capture the ingenuity and challenges faced by tunnelers. In London, beneath its bustling streets, lies a labyrinth of tunnels that have played a vital role in shaping the city. The work on Sewer showcases the dedication of engineers who tirelessly labored to create an efficient underground system. During World War 1, British engineers demonstrated their expertise in mining at Messines Ridge and Hill 60 in Ypres. These sappers fearlessly dug through treacherous terrain, often under enemy lines, with their efforts culminating in explosive success. It also revolutionized transportation systems. The London Underground Railway owes its existence to meticulous excavation below ground level. As commuters now traverse this subterranean network effortlessly, it is easy to forget the immense effort invested by those who tunneled before us. The proposed Channel Tunnel stands as a testament to human ambition and collaboration across borders. Engravings depicting Sangatte's works reveal the monumental task undertaken by engineers striving for connectivity between nations. Notable figures like Commendatore Grattoni engineered marvels such as Mont Cenis Tunnel while engravings showcasing The Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings Railway highlight how tunnelling facilitated progress even beyond warfare or transportation needs. Lastly, we cannot overlook advancements made with technology like the tunnelling machine depicted in engravings - a mechanical marvel that expedited excavation processes with precision and efficiency. Through these glimpses into history's hidden depths, we appreciate both the artistry behind capturing tunneling endeavors and recognize those whose determination shaped our present-day infrastructure. Tunnels are not mere passageways; they represent human resilience, innovation, and the triumph of engineering over formidable challenges.