Home / Guide Book / Brunel's Story

Brunel's Story

Brunel has certainly made his mark on Bristol's landscape. See Brunel's Bristol for details of Brunel's Bristol landmarks.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel came to Bristol aged 23 to recuperate in Clifton, from injuries he sustained when the Thames Tunnel he was working on with his father, Marc Brunel, had flooded.

During his period of convalescence, he heard of a competition to design a new bridge across the Avon Gorge. Brunel submitted four designs, but all were dismissed by the judge Thomas Telford who instead selected his own design.

The judging committee politely told Telford that they could not afford his plan and the following year announced another competition - this time with different judges. Brunel again submitted four entries and, on convincing the judges that the technical objections to his design were unjustified, Brunel was declared the winner and appointed engineer for the project.

Work began on the Clifton Suspension Bridge in 1831, despite being £20,000 short of the necessary funds. Just a few weeks later the Bristol riots broke out and the mob controlled the city for two days until dispersed by cavalry. Business confidence collapsed and work ceased on the bridge. It would then be over four years before work resumed.

As work stopped on the bridge, Brunel became aware that the civic authorities saw the need for a railway link to London. Railway location was controversial, since private landowners and towns had to be dealt with. Brunel showed great skill in presenting his arguments to the various committees and individuals, and work soon began. He surveyed the land himself, and designed the magnificent Temple Meads Station in Bristol - now home to the British Empire & Commonwealth Museum.

When his GWR company directors complained about the great length of their railway (it was only about 160 km) Brunel jokingly suggested that they could make it longer - why not go all the way to New York, and call the link the Great Western.

Brunel formed the Great Western Steamship Company, and construction started on the ship in Bristol in 1836. Built of wood and 236 feet long, the Great Western was launched in 1837, and powered by sail and paddlewheels. The first trip to New York took just 15 days, and 14 days to return. This was hailed as a great success. A one way trip under sail would take more than a month. The Great Western was the first steamship to engage in transatlantic service and made 74 crossings to New York.

Having achieved so much, Brunel immediately got to work on an even bigger ship. The ss Great Britain was made of iron and also built in Bristol, 322 feet in length. The ship was launched in 1843 and was the first screw driven iron ship to cross the Atlantic. The ss Great Britain has recently undergone a programme of restoration in her original dock, and is a must for all visitors to the city.

Brunel died in 1859 at the age of 53 through overwork and 40 cigars a day without ever seeing the completion of his bridge.

>>Learn more about Brunel's influence with Brunel - In Love with the Impossible for £14.99 +p&p and Brunel's Bristol for £9.95 +p&p available from Bristol Gift Shop.