Diary page for 17 to 23 May, no year, Marc Brunel on construction of the Thames Tunnel
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Object number2014.03179
TitleDiary page for 17 to 23 May, no year, Marc Brunel on construction of the Thames Tunnel
Creator Marc Isambard Brunel (author)
DescriptionDiary page by Sir Marc Brunel. Dated Thursday 17 to Wednesday 23 May, no year given.
Many of the entries focus on an 'accident' with what seems to be a collapse of the river bed into the tunnel.
He comments on the latest reports from the Thames Tunnel, including some 'breaking down' of the ground at some points of the frame, amounting to 'about 10 barrows full.' The 'broken ground consists of light blue clay'; the workers need to 'wait for low water' so that they can 'cut down some of the faces' before they can make much more progress. He summarises a report from Mr Beamish, who says it is 'hard work' and 'slow progress' but whilst there are influxes of water, there is not too much loose ground.
Marc continues to summarise his visits to the tunnel, the water leakage, the condition of the ground, the frames in the tunnel, as well as being visited by Lady Ralph and going to dine with Mr Gatt. Whilst at Gatt's, he is given news of 'the accident of the bursting of the water' in the tunnel. He goes on to '[meet] Mr Sweet [xx?] & Mr Hawes at my house where they drew a letter for the Times.'
Marc goes on to give detailed updates on the accident in the tunnel and their attempts to deal with it; he discusses a diving bell, the quantity of water, making a report to the Court of Directors including Dr Wollaston, and a hole ('evidently the place of the accident') above No 11 and No 12 frames. He mentions Isambard and Gravatt going down to the frames 'by being lowered'.
He comments on how 'all hands' have to help in tackling the problem, with a huge number of bags of clay being sunk into the hole (presumably above the tunnel). Later in the week, he comments that Isambard is unwell and bedbound. Marc goes on to describe what seem to be further investigations of the hole, using the diving bell, and possibly taking soundings (?). He includes a pen sketch of the river bed and tunnel. The brickwork in the tunnel 'has not evidently been done so well as it ought to have been.' Meanwhile, the 'displaced ground' from the hole is 'computed to be 25,000 cubic feet', and Marc is baffled that 'it has not disturbed the Brickwork beyond what it has.' He continues to report on the filling of the hole with bags, clay and gravel; the Lord Mayor enquires on progress and whether 'we were not raising the bottom of the River too high', but Marc assures him otherwise.
Transcript available.
Production date 1825 - 1843
Object namediary sheet
Object categorypersonal record
Materialpaper
Techniquehand written
Dimensions
- height: 143 mm
height: 403 mm
width: 120 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”