For two days only Londoners had an opportunity to experience one of the worlds engineering masterpieces close up- for the first time in 145 years. The Thames Tunnel, built by Marc Brunel and completed by his better known son Ismbard was the worlds first underwater tunnel, running beneath the Thames from Wapping to Rotherhithe. It took a mammoth 18 years to construct, with many problems along the way. Many men perished in the construction and the tunnel flooded on several occasions. When it finally opened to the public in 1843 it was an instant crowd puller, dubbed the 'eighth wonder of the world'- people flocked to the tunnel to experience the novelty of walking under the river and to visit the shops and stalls selling merchandise beneath the Thames. The tunnel despite attracting visitors was a financial disaster, and was purchased in 1865 by the East London Railway Company. Since 1869 the tunnel has been used by trains, latterly as part of London Underground's East London Line. The tunnel today is in the final stages of being converted to part of the London Overground network which will open in may.
While scheduled trains are not using the tunnel the opportunity was taken to open it to the public for the first time in 145 as part of London's 'East' festival. For two days the public were once again able to walk through the tunnel as part of guided groups.
Credit must go to Transport for London, The London Transport Museum and the Brunel Museum for organising the event. Despite some complaints about it's organisation it is pleasing to see that events such as this can be successfully staged. Now how about some more access to London's hidden treasures?
For two days only Londoners had an opportunity to experience one of the worlds engineering masterpieces close up- for the first time in 145 years. The Thames Tunnel, built by Marc Brunel and completed by his better known son Ismbard was the worlds first underwater tunnel, running beneath the Thames from Wapping to Rotherhithe. It took a mammoth 18 years to construct, with many problems along the way. Many men perished in the construction and the tunnel flooded on several occasions. When it finally opened to the public in 1843 it was an instant crowd puller, dubbed the 'eighth wonder of the world'- people flocked to the tunnel to experience the novelty of walking under the river and to visit the shops and stalls selling merchandise beneath the Thames. The tunnel despite attracting visitors was a financial disaster, and was purchased in 1865 by the East London Railway Company. Since 1869 the tunnel has been used by trains, latterly as part of London Underground's East London Line. The tunnel today is in the final stages of being converted to part of the London Overground network which will open in may.
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