| Description | Please note that the reference DM1306 refers to one section of the Brunel archive. See the printed lists in Special Collections and the guide on the Special Collections web site.
This section of the Brunel archive was purchased in 1990. In addition to some further sketchbooks, diaries and gatherings of original letters, this accession to the Brunel Collection contains important series of papers on the Thames Tunnel, the Chepstow Bridge and the Great Eastern steamship.
Papers of Marc Isambard Brunel and Isambard Kingdom Brunel relating to the Thames Tunnel, including journals, notes, minutes, letterbooks and correspondence, and published material, 1823-1841, 10 series: DM1306/1
Papers of Isambard Kingdom Brunel:
Private diaries, 5 volumes, 1824-1840, DM1306/2/1-3.
Notebooks, 4 volumes, 1827-1850, DM1306/2/4-6.
A small collection of papers relating to the Great Western Railway, 14 items, 1833-1840: DM1306/3.
Four items relating to atmospheric railways: a report, volume of geological plans, and a prospectus, 1845-c.1852: DM1306/4.
Letters from Isambard Kingdom Brunel:
Letters to Thomas Richard Guppy, 1838-1840, 36 items, DM1306/7; letter to Mr Hennet,1848: DM1306/5/1; letter to Mr Lee, nd: DM1306/6/5; letters to RB Sheridan, 1845-1853, 11 items, DM1306/6/2; correspondence between Brunel, Christopher Claxton, and McAlmont re the SS Great Britain, 1856, 2 items: DM1306/5/2-3; letter to an agent in Geneva, DM1306/6/4.
Letters to Isambard Kingdom Brunel:
Letter from William George Armstrong, 1850-1854, 29 items, DM1306/10/1; letters from Robert Stephenson, 1834-1858, 56 items, DM1306/10/2; letter from Lewis Thomas concerning the Swansea Harbour Trust, 1857: DM1306/5/4; 58 series of letters from various correspondents, including Charles Babbage (DM1306/8/4), Michael Faraday (DM1306/8/21), Sir Benjamin Hawes (DM1306/8/28), Dionysius Lardner (DM1306/8/33) etc, 1844-1856: DM1306/8.
A substantial collection of papers relating to the SS Great Eastern, including letterbooks, contracts, progress reports, correspondence, records of the ship's trials, job applications, bills and accounts, lists of shareholders, drawings, printed material, 1852-1859, 24 series: DM1306/11. |