FACT OF THE DAY

Today in 1849 the French engineer Sir Marc Isambard Brunel, father of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, died. His most enduring work in Britain is the Thames tunnel, built between 1825 and 1843. Commenting in 1837 on a proposal to begin work on the north bank of the Thames as well as the south, The Scotsman wrote: "One great reason for opening the work at the north side is, that when the bed of the river gives way, the artificial bottom which it then becomes necessary to lay down, requires some days or weeks to consolidate, during which the men are idle, though they draw their wages. At such periods they will in future be employed in advancing the works on the north side." Bring more history to life with The Scotsman Archive