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Cityoflondon Collection

"City of London: A Glimpse into the Past" Step back in time and explore the City of London, a microcosm bustling with life during the early 19th century

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Soñando caminos...

Soñando caminos...
Juan Luis Seco

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Plan of London, England c. 1300. From Historical Atlas, published 1923

Plan of London, England c. 1300. From Historical Atlas, published 1923
2603529 Plan of London, England c. 1300. From Historical Atlas, published 1923..

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Double pound lock on the Regent's Canal, c.1839 (engraving)

Double pound lock on the Regent's Canal, c.1839 (engraving)
2602773 Double pound lock on the Regent's Canal, c.1839 (engraving); (add.info.: Double pound lock on the Regent's Canal, London)

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Microcosm of London, Early 19th century (print)

Microcosm of London, Early 19th century (print)
7315202 Microcosm of London, Early 19th century (print) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Guildhall. Examination of a bankrupt before his creditors)

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: A wash view of the shield, c. 1818-39 (watercolour)

A wash view of the shield, c. 1818-39 (watercolour)
7315328 A wash view of the shield, c.1818-39 (watercolour) by Beamish, Richard (1798-1873); 12.8x9 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Timbering for the removal of the old shield, c. 1818-39 (pen-and-ink sketch on wove paper)

Timbering for the removal of the old shield, c. 1818-39 (pen-and-ink sketch on wove paper)
7315327 Timbering for the removal of the old shield, c.1818-39 (pen-and-ink sketch on wove paper) by Beamish, Richard (1798-1873); 12.3x9 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Longitudinal section showing the Rotherhithe shaft with the first section of tunnel constructed, c

Longitudinal section showing the Rotherhithe shaft with the first section of tunnel constructed, c
7315326 Longitudinal section showing the Rotherhithe shaft with the first section of tunnel constructed, c.1818-39 (watercolour) by Brunel

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: 'Longitudinal section of part of Thames Tunnel showing the state of the strata

"Longitudinal section of part of Thames Tunnel showing the state of the strata
7315325 "Longitudinal section of part of Thames Tunnel showing the state of the strata...", 1837 (watercolour on paper) by British School

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Cylindrical tunnelling shield with crank, 1818 (watercolour on paper)

Cylindrical tunnelling shield with crank, 1818 (watercolour on paper)
7315323 Cylindrical tunnelling shield with crank, 1818 (watercolour on paper) by British School, (19th century); 25.543.5 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Longitudinal section showing the inundation of the river, c. 1818-39 (watercolour on paper)

Longitudinal section showing the inundation of the river, c. 1818-39 (watercolour on paper)
7315317 Longitudinal section showing the inundation of the river, c.1818-39 (watercolour on paper) by Pinchback, Joseph (19th century); 61x24 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Sketch-plan showing two sections of the proposed cylindrical tunnel

Sketch-plan showing two sections of the proposed cylindrical tunnel, 1818 (pen-and-ink sketch on wove paper)
7315308 Sketch-plan showing two sections of the proposed cylindrical tunnel, 1818 (pen-and-ink sketch on wove paper) by Brunel, Marc Isambard (1769-1849); 20.5x30 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Lithographic overview and cross section of the Great Descents, c

Lithographic overview and cross section of the Great Descents, c. 1818-39 (lithographic print on paper)
7315331 Lithographic overview and cross section of the Great Descents, c.1818-39 (lithographic print on paper) by Pinchback, Joseph (19th century); 31x52 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Sketch of the tunnel shaft with accompanying text, c. 1818-39 (lithograph print on paper)

Sketch of the tunnel shaft with accompanying text, c. 1818-39 (lithograph print on paper)
7315329 Sketch of the tunnel shaft with accompanying text, c.1818-39 (lithograph print on paper) by Pinchback, Joseph (19th century); London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Transverse section of the Thames Tunnel and strata, 1837 (watercolour on paper)

Transverse section of the Thames Tunnel and strata, 1837 (watercolour on paper)
7315324 Transverse section of the Thames Tunnel and strata, 1837 (watercolour on paper) by British School, (19th century); 19x31 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Cross Section of the Tunnel showing the extent of displaced ground, c

Cross Section of the Tunnel showing the extent of displaced ground, c. 1818-39 (watercolour on paper)
7315315 Cross Section of the Tunnel showing the extent of displaced ground, c.1818-39 (watercolour on paper) by Pinchback, Joseph (19th century); 29x51 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Cylindrical tunnelling shield (two views), 1818, (watercolour on paper)

Cylindrical tunnelling shield (two views), 1818, (watercolour on paper)
7315310 Cylindrical tunnelling shield (two views), 1818, (watercolour on paper) by British School, (19th century); 50x27 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Coupe d'une Tonnelle pour le service des gens de pied prise dans toute son etendue

Coupe d'une Tonnelle pour le service des gens de pied prise dans toute son etendue, 1824 (watercolour on paper)
7315305 Coupe d'une Tonnelle pour le service des gens de pied prise dans toute son etendue, 1824 (watercolour on paper) by Brunel

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Three miners at work in the tunnel, c. 1818-39 (watercolour on paper)

Three miners at work in the tunnel, c. 1818-39 (watercolour on paper)
7315287 Three miners at work in the tunnel, c.1818-39 (watercolour on paper) by British School, (19th century); 26x43.5 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Section of Thames Tunnel with overlay (under), c. 1818-39 (watercolour on paper)

Section of Thames Tunnel with overlay (under), c. 1818-39 (watercolour on paper)
7315282 Section of Thames Tunnel with overlay (under), c.1818-39 (watercolour on paper) by Pinchback, Joseph (19th century); 29x49.5 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Isometrical projection of one of the Twelve Iron Frames forming the Shield, c

Isometrical projection of one of the Twelve Iron Frames forming the Shield, c. 1818-39 (watercolour on paper)
7315278 Isometrical projection of one of the Twelve Iron Frames forming the Shield, c.1818-39 (watercolour on paper) by Beamish, Richard (1798-1873); 52x42 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Timbering for the Removal of the Old Shield/ Side Timbering, c. 1818-39 (watercolour on paper)

Timbering for the Removal of the Old Shield/ Side Timbering, c. 1818-39 (watercolour on paper)
7315313 Timbering for the Removal of the Old Shield/ Side Timbering, c.1818-39 (watercolour on paper) by Beamish, Richard (1798-1873); 52x28 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Section of the tunnel, shield and movable stage, c. 1818-39 (watercolour on paper)

Section of the tunnel, shield and movable stage, c. 1818-39 (watercolour on paper)
7315296 Section of the tunnel, shield and movable stage, c.1818-39 (watercolour on paper) by Pinchback, Joseph (19th century); 30x51.5 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Isometrical sketch of one of the Twelve Iron Frames forming the Shield, c

Isometrical sketch of one of the Twelve Iron Frames forming the Shield, c
7315272 Isometrical sketch of one of the Twelve Iron Frames forming the Shield, c.1818-39 (sketch on wove paper, derived from woodcut) by Beamish

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Mode of sinking the Shaft, c. 1818-39 (watercolour on paper)

Mode of sinking the Shaft, c. 1818-39 (watercolour on paper)
7315292 Mode of sinking the Shaft, c.1818-39 (watercolour on paper) by Pinchback, Joseph (19th century); 29x50.5 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: A lithograph section of the whole tunnel with three vignettes, c

A lithograph section of the whole tunnel with three vignettes, c. 1818-39 (lithograph print on paper)
7315332 A lithograph section of the whole tunnel with three vignettes, c.1818-39 (lithograph print on paper) by Westall, William (1781-1850); London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Lithographic overview of the Great Descents, c. 1818-39 (lithographic print on paper)

Lithographic overview of the Great Descents, c. 1818-39 (lithographic print on paper)
7315330 Lithographic overview of the Great Descents, c.1818-39 (lithographic print on paper) by Brunel, Marc Isambard (1769-1849); 12.8x28 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Section of the Thames Tunnel with stagecoach and shield, c. 1818-39 (watercolour on paper)

Section of the Thames Tunnel with stagecoach and shield, c. 1818-39 (watercolour on paper)
7315302 Section of the Thames Tunnel with stagecoach and shield, c.1818-39 (watercolour on paper) by British School, (19th century); 35.5x27 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Section of one of the iron frames comprising the shield, 1836 (watercolour on paper)

Section of one of the iron frames comprising the shield, 1836 (watercolour on paper)
7315289 Section of one of the iron frames comprising the shield, 1836 (watercolour on paper) by British School, (19th century); 43x51 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Section of Thames Tunnel with overlay (over), c. 1818-39 (watercolour on paper)

Section of Thames Tunnel with overlay (over), c. 1818-39 (watercolour on paper)
7315284 Section of Thames Tunnel with overlay (over), c.1818-39 (watercolour on paper) by Pinchback, Joseph (19th century); 29x49.5 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Isambard's descent in the diving bell, 1827 (pen-and-ink sketch on wove paper)

Isambard's descent in the diving bell, 1827 (pen-and-ink sketch on wove paper)
7315268 Isambard's descent in the diving bell, 1827 (pen-and-ink sketch on wove paper) by Brunel, Isambard Kingdom (1806-59); 19x21.7 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Engineering drawings for a tunnel in cast iron, 1818 (pen-and-ink sketch on wove paper)

Engineering drawings for a tunnel in cast iron, 1818 (pen-and-ink sketch on wove paper)
7315320 Engineering drawings for a tunnel in cast iron, 1818 (pen-and-ink sketch on wove paper) by Brunel, Marc Isambard (1769-1849); 32.5x20.5 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Section of a tripartite tunnelling shield with twelve miners at work, c

Section of a tripartite tunnelling shield with twelve miners at work, c. 1818-39 (watercolour on paper)
7315303 Section of a tripartite tunnelling shield with twelve miners at work, c.1818-39 (watercolour on paper) by British School, (19th century); 27x27 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Four views of the Tunnelling Shield, c. 1818-39 (grisaille watercolour on paper)

Four views of the Tunnelling Shield, c. 1818-39 (grisaille watercolour on paper)
7315298 Four views of the Tunnelling Shield, c.1818-39 (grisaille watercolour on paper) by Brunel, Marc Isambard (1769-1849); 51.5x50.5 cm; London Metropolitan Archives

Background imageCityoflondon Collection: Cross section of the whole tunnel, 1831 (watercolour on paper)

Cross section of the whole tunnel, 1831 (watercolour on paper)
7315271 Cross section of the whole tunnel, 1831 (watercolour on paper) by Pinchback, Joseph (19th century); 54x155 cm; London Metropolitan Archives



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"City of London: A Glimpse into the Past" Step back in time and explore the City of London, a microcosm bustling with life during the early 19th century. Through prints and sketches, we witness pivotal moments that shaped this vibrant city. In one print, we catch a glimpse of a revolt against Charles I and Bishop William Laud, showcasing the fiery spirit that has always coursed through these streets. Another artwork portrays a wash view of the shield, capturing its grandeur and significance to the city's identity. Timbering for the removal of the old shield is meticulously depicted in pen-and-ink sketch on wove paper, revealing both craftsmanship and progress. Longitudinal sections showcase Rotherhithe shafts and tunnels being constructed with precision – an engineering marvel ahead of its time. A watercolor masterpiece showcases "the state of strata, " allowing us to delve deeper into geological wonders beneath our feet. The cylindrical tunnelling shield with crank comes alive in another watercolor piece – an ode to human ingenuity pushing boundaries. The inundation of the river is captured vividly in yet another watercolor artwork, reminding us how nature can shape even man-made structures. A sketch-plan reveals two proposed sections for a cylindrical tunnel – evidence that innovation was constantly at play within these historic walls. Lithographic prints provide an overview and cross-sections of Great Descents - awe-inspiring feats plunging deep into unknown depths below ground level. Accompanied by text, a lithograph print offers insights into tunnel shafts' intricate details - inviting us to imagine what it would be like walking those very paths centuries ago. Lastly, transverse sections bring Thames Tunnel's magnificence closer as layers upon layers are unveiled through delicate strokes on paper - testament to human perseverance amidst challenges faced during construction. Join us on this journey through artistry preserved from yesteryears.