Brunel's Bristol

Isambard Kingdom Brunel. An unusual name and one that is associated with some of Bristol's finest landmarks. To quote from his wikipedia entry :

Isambard Kingdom Brunel (9 April 1806 – 15 September 1859), was an English mechanical and civil engineer who is considered "one of the most ingenious and prolific figures in engineering history",^[1] "one of the 19th century engineering giants",^[2] and "one of the greatest figures of the Industrial Revolution, [who] changed the face of the English landscape with his groundbreaking designs and ingenious constructions".^[3] Brunel built dockyards, the Great Western Railway, a series of steamships including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship, and numerous important bridges and tunnels. His designs revolutionised public transport and modern engineering.

This photo of him, with the stovepipe hat, large cigar and mud on his trousers is wonderfully evocative of the brilliant, driven man he must have been.

(By Robert Howlett - en.wikipedia, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=937183)

In a 2002 public television poll conducted by the BBC to select the 100 Greatest Britons, Brunel came in second, only behind Winston Churchill.

Three of Brunel's greatest achievements can be seen in Bristol. The Clifton Suspension Bridge is a Bristol icon and still very much in use.

We walked across the bridge on a gorgeous, crisp, blue-sky day to enjoy this great view of the Avon River gorge below.

In 1833, Brunel was appointed chief engineer of the Great Western Railway, one of the wonders of Victorian Britain, running from London Paddington to Bristol. Not only did Brunel design the railway, but, the stations at both ends. Its Bristol terminus was the Bristol Temple Meads railway station, opened in 1840, another Bristol icon. Still functional today, but, also beautiful.

Wonderful Victorian detailing is still in evidence.

As if bridges, tunnels and railways were not enough Brunel was also involved in transatlantic shipping. He proved the viability of steam powered ships that could cross the Atlantic with the construction of the "Great Western". This boat had steam-powered paddlewheels along with four masts. At the time, it was the longest ship in the world at 236 ft (72 m) with a 250-foot (76 m) keel. Following on from that success, he designed the 322 feet (98m) long "SS Great Britain" . Launched in 1843, it was the world's first iron-hulled, propeller-driven ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

Today, the "SS Great Britain" is fully preserved and open to the public in dry dock at Bristol's Floating Harbour. We have yet to visit, but, intend to soon.