A brief history of the Thames Tunnel

The Thames Tunnel, opened in 1843 beneath the River Thames in East London, was an engineering marvel and the first tunnel successfully constructed under a navigable river.

This in-depth history explores how the Thames Tunnel overcame immense technical and financial challenges during its construction to become one of the great engineering achievements of its time.

We’ll learn about Tunneling pioneer Marc Brunel and his ambitious tunnel design, the setbacks and accidents that plagued its 19-year construction, the innovative Tunneling shield used to bore through unstable river mud, and the tunnel’s eventual success as a pedestrian crossing that sparked a subterranean revolution in London.

Marc Brunel’s Radical Tunneling Concept

French engineer Marc Brunel originally conceived the idea for the Thames Tunnel in 1805 while stranded in England during the Napoleonic Wars. Brunel envisioned a tunnel beneath the Thames as a way to link the north and south banks that would provide an alternative to traversing crowded central London by road.

But digging safely under a muddy tidal river seemed an impossible task with the limited Tunneling technology of the time. Collapses and flooding doomed earlier attempts at the Thames Tunnel and other sites.

Undeterred, Marc Brunel spent 15 years developing revolutionary new Tunneling tools and techniques that made the scheme feasible, including a Tunneling shield system and methods for preventing river water influx.

In 1823, with Brunel as chief engineer, the Thames Tunnel Company was formed to raise funds for the project. Construction commenced in 1825 from a 50ft deep shaft on the Rotherhithe bank, using Brunel’s newly patented Tunneling shield.

Overcoming Disasters During Tunneling

It quickly became clear just how dangerous and complex excavating the Thames Tunnel would be. The Tunneling shield enabled miners to excavate a little as 50ft per week—remarkable progress for the time.

But there were constant struggles with floods, inundations of river water and life-threatening collapses:

• 1827: A major collapse occurred after just 1,000 feet had been tunneled
• 1828: Marc Brunel himself almost died in a tunnel collapse
• 1834-35: Finance issues stopped work for a year as funds dried up
• 1837: Six men died in a flood accident
• 1840: A fire broke out at the entrance shaft
• 1841: Financial woes forced a 7-year stoppage of work

Despite these disasters which repeatedly halted progress, Marc and his son Isambard Kingdom Brunel persevered to inch the tunnel steadily forward under treacherous conditions.

Innovations Make Tunneling Feasible

Several of Marc Brunel’s innovative Tunneling methods were key to overcoming challenges:

• The Tunneling Shield: This pioneering device gave structural support by protecting the exposed excavation face. It was pushed forward as material was removed from inside it.
• Lining the tunnel with dovetailed brick: This prevented collapses by distributing the weight of the river mud.
• Forced air ventilation: Provided breathable air and pushed back explosive gases.
• Caissons: Helped reduce water inflows by sealing the entrance shafts.

Though progress was painfully slow, these innovative techniques enabled what was previously impossible—digging safely through unstable, waterlogged soil under the river.

Opening and Early Public Access

After 19 years of struggling against disasters, floods and funding issues, the Thames Tunnel finally opened in 1843. It measured 1,300 feet in length and 37 feet wide. Marc Brunel had succeeded—his Tunnel became the first engineered under a navigable river.

Originally intended for horse-drawn freight wagons, the Thames Tunnel was soon converted to pedestrian use after it continued leaking water. For a penny toll, the public could walk under the Thames between Wapping and Rotherhithe. It became a major tourist attraction, drawing huge crowds to marvel at this feat of Victorian engineering.

Though only used by foot traffic, the successful Thames Tunnel demonstrated underground tunnels were viable. It inspired a subterranean boom in London, including the first underground railway in 1863.

Later Use and Legacy

In 1865, the East London Railway company purchased the Thames Tunnel and converted it to operate trains through separate rail tunnels laid inside the original shell. After a closure, the tunnel served as a major rail artery under the Thames for freight and passengers on the London Underground from 1869-2007.

In 2010, it was fully restored and reopened for guided pedestrian tours and events. The Thames Tunnel now has Grade II heritage protected status, a reminder of the vision and innovation of Marc Brunel. His techniques made underwater tunneling possible and kicked off over a century of tunneling under London’s streets and rivers.

Though plagued by accidents and delays, the Thames Tunnel overcame immense challenges through perseverance and engineering creativity. It sparked the first underwater tunneling revolution in London and stands today as monument to bold Victorian innovation.

Conclusion

The pioneering Thames Tunnel overcame 19 years of financial woes, floods, gas leaks and collapses to achieve a feat long thought impossible—successfully tunneling beneath a river.

Driven by Marc Brunel’s vision and ingenious Tunneling shield system, it became the first tunnel under a navigable river and a crucial milestone in London’s subterranean evolution.

The project’s resolution and success demonstrated that with sufficient engineering prowess, the city’s geological underground could be harnessed. The iconic Thames Tunnel stands today both as a Victorian landmark and a reminder of the power of innovation to overcome immense technical obstacles.