Download media
Object number2014.03183
TitleDiary page, 28 April, no year, Marc Brunel or Isambard Kingdom Brunel on the Thames Tunnel work
Creator Marc Isambard Brunel (author)
DescriptionPage from a diary, dated 28 April. Mainly relates to work on the Thames Tunnel, includes sketches and drawings. Not clear if I. K. Brunel or Sir Marc Brunel, although the handwriting perhaps looks more like Marc's.
The entry appears to relate to the collapse of the tunnel roof, with the author reporting that the bags that were dropped into the hole/depression in the riverbed 'will [...] soon come in contact with the frame.' He records the rate of influx of water over a period of days, and pumping the water out. He then includes a list of surnames, the purpose of which isn't clear.
The entry reports on the frames and Gravatt's visits to them, and the condition of the ground, to east and west; to the west it consists of the bags, to the east 'it is rotten clay (old) and silt'. The East arch is damaged 'as if a piece of cast iron has rubbed it with an immense impetuosity and force', the air in the tunnel is bad, there is water spouting 'with great violence' behind frames 5 and 6, which he describes as 'chalibeat' (chalybeate) water. At the end he comments, 'the men were rather inebriated. Nothing could be done beyond what has been done. Ground settling everywhere.'
Several small pen and ink drawings are included, showing plans of the frames.
Transcript available.
Production date approximate 1825 - approximate 1843
Object namediary sheet
Object categorypersonal record
Materialpaper
Techniquehand written
Dimensions
- height: 165 mm
height: 325 mm
width: 122 mm
Credit line“Accepted under the Cultural Gifts Scheme by HM Government from Clive Richards OBE DL and allocated to the ss Great Britain Trust, 2017”