Isambard Kingdom Collection

Isambard Kingdom Brunel Standing Before the Launching Chains of the Great Eastern, 1857, printed 1863-64

SS Great Eastern, IK Brunels great steam ship, 1858
SS Great Eastern, IK Brunels great steam ship, launched from J Scott Russells yard on the Thames in 1858. Chromolithograph published in London at about the time of her launch

View of the (proposed) western archway of the Thames Tunnel, London, c1831. The Thames Tunnel, connecting Wapping and Rotherhithe, was the first underwater tunnel in the world

Valentia in 1857-1858 at the Time of the Laying of the Former Cable, 1865

Foilhummerum Bay, Valentia, from Cromwell Fort: The Caroline Laying the Earthwire on July 21st, 1865, 1865

Great Eastern on the stocks at Millwall on the Thames, 1857. View from the stern, showing the vessel in John Scott Russells (1808-1882) yard

Isambard Kingdom Brunel, civil engineer, c1850s
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, English engineer, c1850s. Brunel surrounded by vignettes of some of his most significant projects - the steamships Great Eastern, Great Britain

SS Great Eastern, 1859. Pictured at the port of Le Havre, France. Isambard Kingdom Brunel proposed to the Eastern Steam Navigation Company the construction of a steamship five or six times the size

The Atmospheric Railway at Dawlish, 1847, (1945). Creator: Unknown
The Atmospheric Railway at Dawlish, 1847, (1945). Railway line running along the sea front in the town of Dawlish on the south coast of Devon

The Great Eastern, 1860: The Vessel leaving Southampton on her First Voyage, June 17, (1901). The SS Great Eastern was an iron sailing steamship designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel with John Scott

The Great Eastern, 1886. Isambard Kingdom Brunel proposed to the Eastern Steam Navigation Company the construction of a steamship five or six times the size of any then in use

Detail of the Approved Design for the Clifton Suspension Bridge, 1831
BAG27590 Detail of the Approved Design for the Clifton Suspension Bridge, 1831 by Jackson, Samuel (1794-1868); Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, UK; eBristol Museums, Galleries & Archives; English

Cornwall Railway, The Gover Viaduct (w / c on paper)
IGM134702 Cornwall Railway, The Gover Viaduct (w/c on paper) by Geach, H. (19th century); Ironbridge Gorge Museum, Telford, Shropshire, UK; eIronbridge Gorge Museum; English, out of copyright

Arrival of "The Great Britain"Steam-Ship at New York, 1845. Creator: Unknown
Arrival of " The Great Britain" Steam-Ship at New York, 1845. The SS Great Britain steamship, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel

"The Great Britain"steam-ship leaving Cumberland Basin, Bristol, 1844
" The Great Britain" steam-ship leaving Cumberland Basin, Bristol, 1844. The SS Great Britain, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Aphrodita Under Construction, ca. 1857. Creator: Robert Howlett
Aphrodita Under Construction, ca. 1857

Men at Work Beside the Launching Chains of the Great Eastern, November 18
Men at Work Beside the Launching Chains of the " Great Eastern", November 18, 1857

The Atlantic Telegraph Cable Fleet Assembled at Berehaven (Southwest Coast of Ireland): Ships, the Great Eastern, H.M.S. Terrible, the Alby, the Medway and the William Cory, 1866

The Bay of Bull Arms, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, Bonfires Lighted on the Hills to Notify of the Arrival of the Cable Fleet on August 5th, 1858, 1865-66

The Settlement and Church of Hearts Content, Newfoundland, 1866

First Telegraph House at Hearts Content, Newfoundland, 1866, 1866

Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, Exterior View of the Telegraph House in 1857-1858, 1865-66

Telegraph Cable Fleet at Sea, 1865, 1865-66. Creator: Robert Charles Dudley
Telegraph Cable Fleet at Sea, 1865, 1865-66

View Looking Aft from the Port Paddle-box on the Deck of the Great Eastern... 1865-66
View Looking Aft from the Port Paddle-box on the Deck of the Great Eastern: Showing the Trough for the Cable, etc. 1865-66

Valentia, Ireland, from the Harbor, Opposite Knight s-town, at the Period of Laying the Cable of 1857, 1865-66

Foilhummerum Bay, Valentia, Looking from Cromwell Fort: The Caroline and Boats Laying the Earth Wire, July 21st, 1865, 1865-66

Coiling the Cable in the Large Tanks at the Works of the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company of Greenwich, 1865, 1865

In the Bows of the Great Eastern: The Cable Broken and Lost, Preparing to Grapple, August 2nd, 1865, 1865

Coiling the Cable in the After-tank on Board the Great Eastern at Sheerness: Visit of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales on May 23rd, 1865, 1865-66

The Cable Passed From the Works into the Hulk (the Old Frigate Iris) Lying in the Thames at Greenwich, 1865-66

The Old Frigate Iris with Her Freight of Cable Alongside the Great Eastern at Sheerness: The Cable Passed from the Hulk to the Great Eastern, 1865

Foilhummerum Bay, Valentia, Looking Seawards from the Point at Which the Cable Reaches the Shore of Ireland, 1865-66

The Reels of Gutta-percha Covered Conducting Wire Conveyed into Tanks at the Works of the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company, at Greenwich, 1865-66

September 8th at Hearts Content, the day of the successful termination of the work of laying, recovering, completing and testing the Atlantic Telegraph Cables of 1865 and 1866, 1866

Splicing the Cable (after the First Accident) on Board the Great Eastern, July 25th, 1865, 1865-66

Forward Deck of the Great Eastern Cleared for the First Attempt to Grapple... 1865-66
Forward Deck of the Great Eastern Cleared for the First Attempt to Grapple for the Lost Cable, August 11th, 1865, 1865-66

The Forge on Deck, Night of August 9th: Preparing the Iron Plating for Capstan, 1865-66

The Paying-out Machinery in the Stern of the Great Eastern, 1865

Getting Out One of the Large Buoys for Launching, August 2nd, 1865, 1865

H. M. S. Agamemnon Laying the Atlantic Telegraph Cable in 1858: a Whale Crosses the Line
H.M.S. Agamemnon Laying the Atlantic Telegraph Cable in 1858: a Whale Crosses the Line, 1865-66

Interior of One of the Tanks on Board the Great Eastern: The Cable Passing Out, 1865-66

The Cliffs, Foilhummerum Bay, Valentia, the Point at Which the Shore-end of the Cable was Landed on July 22nd, 1865, 1865

Launching the Buoy from the Bow of the Great Eastern on August 8th, 1865, 1865-66

Getting Out One of the Great Buoys: The Deck of the Great Eastern Looking From the Forecastle, 1865-66

View of the Interior of One of the Tanks on Board the Great Eastern, 1865-66

View, Looking Aft, from the Port Paddle Box of the Great Eastern, Showing the Trough for the Cable, etc. 1865-66

Deck of the Great Eastern, the Cable Trough, etc. 1866, 1865-66

News Received Through the Atlantic Cable From All Parts of the World, etc. 1866

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Isambard Kingdom Brunel, a visionary engineer of the 19th century, left an indelible mark on the world with his groundbreaking creations. Standing before the launching chains of the Great Eastern, he exuded confidence and determination that would propel him to greatness. In London, he envisioned a western archway for the Thames Tunnel, showcasing his ability to think outside the box. The Great Eastern took shape at Millwall on the Thames in 1857 under Brunel's watchful eye. This colossal steamship was a testament to his engineering prowess and innovation. With its launch imminent, anticipation filled the air as people marveled at this feat of human ingenuity. Captured in a photograph from the 1850s, Isambard Kingdom Brunel personified brilliance and expertise in civil engineering. His contributions were not limited to shipbuilding; he also played a crucial role in laying telegraph cables across vast distances. Valentia witnessed history unfold as cables were laid during this time period. Foilhummerum Bay offered picturesque views of Cromwell Fort where The Caroline diligently laid earthwire in July—a momentous occasion that connected nations through communication like never before. Another remarkable creation by Brunel was seen at Dawlish—the Atmospheric Railway—an innovative transportation system ahead of its time. In June 1860, The Great Eastern embarked on her maiden voyage from Southampton—a monumental event etched into history books forever. This gargantuan vessel symbolized progress and opened new horizons for travel across oceans. Over time, The Great Eastern underwent transformations but remained an icon throughout decades—her presence evoking awe wherever she sailed. Meanwhile, SS Great Eastern stood tall since her inception in 1859—proof of Brunel's genius brought to life. One cannot overlook Brunel's involvement with Clifton Suspension Bridge—an architectural marvel designed meticulously down to every detail since its conception in 1831—a testament to his unwavering commitment to perfection.