Letter by Sir Marc Brunel to Benjamin Hawes regarding the Thames Tunnel, 1 November 1838
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Object number2014.03093
TitleLetter by Sir Marc Brunel to Benjamin Hawes regarding the Thames Tunnel, 1 November 1838
Creator Marc Isambard Brunel (author)
DescriptionLetter by Sir Marc Brunel to his son-in-law Benjamin Hawes, dated 1 November 1838.
Concerning progress on the Thames Tunnel, mainly relating to personnel; Page and another employee (Mr Chartier?) are to visit Benjamin Hawes. Also concerning a potential visit to Walmer Castle, home of the Duke of Wellington.
Brunel mentions the men being 'anxious for the vessel'. He says that they would be able to make more progress if they had more men, but could not afford to use inexperienced men for the work. Mentions good conduct of assistants Fletcher and Dixon. Dixon can be considered 'as carrying more weight among Webb and his department.' The men have been complaining of 'offensive effluvia.' The author mentions considering paying a visit to Walmer Castle in Kent to 'tell our friend of these things without any pretension to business.' This was the home of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, which between 1829 and his death in 1852 was Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington. Brunel asks Hawes for advice on undertaking this visit. He informs Hawes that Mrs Brunel 'has been very poorly today.' Addressed on verso to 'Bm. Hawes Esq. M.P, Stanley Lodge, Mortlake.' The remains of a seal on verso, with a slight tear caused by this in the bottom left-hand corner. Three post marks.
Transcript available.
Production date 1838-11-01 - 1838-11-01
Object nameletter
Object categorycorrespondence
Techniquehand-written
Dimensions
- height: 200 mm
width: 122 mm
width: 244 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”