RBHS presents Sir Marc Brunel 250 Thames Tunnel Talks

25th April 2019 will be the 250th anniversary of the birth of Sir Marc Brunel, the great civil engineer who masterminded the world’s first tunnel to be dug beneath a navigable river. This tunnel, which opened in 1843, still exists today and is in very active use, ferrying thousands of London Overground passengers every day beneath The Thames between Rotherhithe and Wapping.

To celebrate this historically significant occasion The Rotherhithe & Bermondsey Local History Society is joining forces with The Brunel Museum to stage a ‘Thames Tunnel mini-series’ of three related events.

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Join the celebration

The series begins on the eve of the anniversary, Wednesday 24th April, when Brunel Museum Director Robert Hulse speaks about Brunel’s Tunnel at Rotherhithe. Then on Wednesday 29th May it’s fast-for- ward to the latest tunnel under The Thames, as Tideway Project Director Mike Sawyer reveals the secrets of London’s Super Sewers: From Bazalgette to Tideway. Finally, on Wednesday 26th June, expert Ian Blore leads Society members on a guided tour of London’s Forgotten Foot Tunnel at Woolwich.

Both the talks take place in the heart of Rotherhithe Village and within the actual shaft which was sunk to facilitate construction of Brunel’s Thames Tunnel. Doors open 15 minutes before start time and everyone is welcome for a suggested donation of only £3 (Society members free).

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Summary

Wed-24-Apr (Talk 8:00pm) Brunel’s Tunnel at Rotherhithe – Robert Hulse.
Wed-29-May (Talk 7:30pm) London’s Super Sewers: From Bazalgette to Tideway – Mike Sawyer.
Venue for talks: The Brunel Museum, Railway Avenue, London, SE16 4LF. (Rotherhithe tube 2 mins walk) Wed-26-Jun (Visit – Society members only) London’s Forgotten Foot Tunnel at Woolwich – Ian Blore.

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About the Rotherhithe & Bermondsey Local History Society

• Encourages an interest in the history of Rotherhithe, Bermondsey, the surrounding area, Docklands and the River Thames by organising monthly talks and events on subjects of local historical interest.
• Began mid-1990’s as the local history group of Time & Talents Association, a charity operating in Rother- hithe and Bermondsey, and become the Rotherhithe & Bermondsey Local History Society in 2011.
• Holder of a Southwark Civic Trust Award, ‘in recognition of exceptional dedication and commitment to keeping local history alive’ and is extremely grateful to Tommy Steele OBE for being its Patron.
• Further information at www.rbhistory.org.uk About The Brunel Museum

• The Museum is an educational charity and tells the story of one of the world’s great engineering dynasties. Brunel organised the world’s first underground concert party here in 1827, and the Museum celebrates and interprets music and theatre as well as engineering.
• Further information at www.brunel-museum.org.uk Related Archaeology Talk (Southwark & Lambeth Archaeological Society) Tue-14-May (Talk 7:30pm) Thames Tideway Tunnel – Stella Bickelman (MoLA) Venue: New Cut Housing Co-Operative Hall, 106 The Cut, London, SE1 8LN (£2)

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#Events #Rotherhithe #Brunel

Disclaimer: WISE16 publish public notices from London Borough of Southwark with the aim to encourage participation. Please visit Southwark Council’s website for further in