towerbridge community

THE BRUNEL EXPERIENCE CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE BRUNEL ENGINE HOUSE

SCHOOL TEACHERS! PLEASE GO TO 'BREAKING NEWS' FIRST

ABOUT BRUNEL:
The East London Line is to receive a huge boost from Government funding and there is relief that Brunel's Wapping Underground Station has been saved from the threat of a permanent closure, money will now be found to extend and modernise this line and its stations.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel was recently acclaimed Britain's greatest engineer ever, the son of French immigrant Marc Brunel, also an engineer of some repute, was voted second to Sir Winston Churchill on TV as the Nation's choice of 'Greatest Briton', and rightly so:

IK Brunel was born in Portsmouth in 1806, at 21, while helping his father construct the first underwater Thames Tunnel from Rotherhithe to Wapping, he was almost drowned when it suddenly caved in, had young Isambard been lost then, modern history might have been very different, because his engineering achievements changed our World completely, Isambard Kingdom Brunel's short but active life was amazing by any standards.

WHY ACCLAIMATION?:
Isambard Kingdom not only helped his father construct the first Thames tunnel, but went on to create the first wide gauged 'Great Western railway' line, amazing suspension bridge over the River Avon at Bristol; and three of the biggest ships of their time, the last one, the 'Great Eastern'', was then the largest iron ship ever seen, but, while working on her launch in the Isle of Dogs in 1858, he bacame ill and died at his Westminster home several months later aged just 53, Brunel's remarkable engineering achievements remain unsurpassed to this day and have endured to be used by millions.

Learn more about Britain's great engineering heritage by visiting Brunel200, Dibnah's Britain and Engineering Timelines

OUR PLANS
The LEA HERITAGE community group have launched "THE BRUNEL EXPERIENCE", a concept to honour the great man on his 200th birthday anniversary in 2006.

THE OBJECTIVE
Our main objective is to establish a Brunel visitor Centre close to Wapping Station giving visitors an opportunity to fully enjoy Brunel's remarkable first Thames Tunnel.

WAPPING'S BRUNEL VISITOR CENTRE would be the launching point for the tour, it could be a cafe, coffee bar, or general meeting place containing Brunel features, souvenirs, educational literature, railart, etc.

THE BRUNEL TRAIL IDEA
The trail would take vistors on a slow journey through Wapping Station and its floodlit Brunel Tunnel to Rotherhithe where thay would alight to visit the famous Brunel Engine House on the South side of the Thames.

The tour would then continue on to Greenwich and a restored Cutty Sark we hope, using 'City Cruises', (who will require a new jetty at Rotherhithe), then via Docklands Light Railway it would cross back to the Isle of Dogs visiting Millwall's old shipyard where Isambard built his famous Great Eastern

From there the trail will take us to Virginia Quay's First Settlers Monument near Leamouth. and then on to the 'Musuum in Docklands', then retuning West via the DLR to Limehouse and on to Shadwell,

Visitors would then alight there to see the famous 'Cable Street mural' at 'St Georges in the East' and then cross the Highway to St Annes Church, known as the sea Captains Church, where Thomas Jefferson's Mother worshipped.

A short stroll through adjacent 'King Edward V11 Memorial Park' dedicated by the King 'for 'the enjoyment of the people of East London forever', and then on to the most famous Pub for refreshment, nearby, the 'Prospect of Whitby', finally the trail will end at the Tower of London where it started from.

The Brunel Trail can help to bring economic benefits to both sides of the River as well as providing a focus of new interest in local history from the Tower Bridge to the Greenwich Dome

INSPIRING THE CHALLENGE:
The Brunel trail would inspire the young and motivate the elderly and would need the support of local City Businesses and the 'Tower-Bridge Exhibition' to have any real chance of success.

HELP MAKE IT A REALITY:
Your support can help to make 'The Brunel Experience' a reality, and could help to regenerate a deprived part of London, we appeal to any individual or group wishing to get involved, or feel they can help in any way, to contact us promptly by clicking this link: SUPPORT THE BRUNEL TRAIL HERE

BREAKING NEWS

FOR THE URGENT ATTENTION OF ALL SCHOOLS:
2006 was IK Brunel's 200th Birthday anniversary year, it has encouraged exciting educational opportunities for Schools and young people of all ages, we therefore appeal to Teachers not to miss this opportunity to add 'environment and engineering' projects to their curriculum this year for all age groups and classes.

Throughout 2006 award certificates and prizes inscribed with the official 'Brunel200'logo were offered to those children considered to have achieved the best results during the Anniversary year.

Rotherhithe Museum, the Museum in Docklands and the Museum of London are keen to welcome visiting groups from Schools, so please Teachers, arrange to visit them, there is also an excellent educational on-line BBC website for 5-7 year olds.

Tower hamlets Arts and Culture can book The City of Bristol's famous Brass Band to play in this part of London if required.

BRISTOLS AMBITIOUS BRUNEL PLANS GET HUGE LOTTERY BOOST:
In 2006 The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded Bristol almost Ł1,000,000 to celebrate Isambard Kingdom Brunel's 200th Birthday Anniversary year, brunel200.com provided the lead for a series of national celebrations across the country, including associated London sites.

Brunel University West London, events co-ordinator praised our work in preparing for a year of events and prize awards.

Rotherhithe Brunel Engine House and the Museum in Docklands praise our efforts in helping young people to learn more about local History, and look forward to welcoming more School visits this year .

One of London's leading Architects was at work in Wapping and discussed his Brunel concept with theTFL

The GLA has begun investing money in renovating the East London Line and has further plans for Brunel's Wapping Station, supported by the local Community who wish to see a Brunel Visitor Centre incorporated into Wapping Station as part of their overall plan.

Ian Sharpe made an exciting discovery at the old Railway buiding opposite Wapping Station in 2006 where IK Brunel had worked while constructing the first Thames underwater tunnel, two sliding doors on pulley wheels were revealed, designed by the Master himself, IK Brunel.

"City cruises" offered their firm support for our project wishing it every success

LDA Leading Member John Biggs offered his strong support for our project.

TFL' and the East London line have taken account of our proposals

Councillor Mary Mills of Greenwich offered her support.