Tanya Weaver looks back at a father and son’s engineering marvel, 20th-century speed limits and the video that launched a platform.
200 years ago
What a steel
This year sees the 200th anniversary of work beginning on the Thames Tunnel in London – the world’s first tunnel built underneath a navigable river.
Connecting Rotherhithe and Wapping, the 400-metre long tunnel was built by Marc Brunel, assisted by a large team of miners, bricklayers, draughtsmen – and his son, Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Attempted twice before, all previous tunnels had ended in disaster. However, Brunel had a cunning plan to ensure its success – a rectangular tunnelling shield he had recently invented.
This protective structure that supports the soft earth while tunnelling ensures the tunnel can be safely excavated. His inspiration for its design came from Teredo navalis, a saltwater clam that efficiently burrows through submerged wood. This method still forms the basis of modern tunnelling projects.
Construction on...