Record

Ref NoDM162
TitleBrunel Collection
DescriptionPlease note that the reference DM162 refers to one section of the Brunel Archive. Reference needs to be made to the extensive lists available in Special Collections and to the guide on the Special Collections web site.

This part of the Brunel collection was given to the University Library in 1950. It comprises letter books, sketchbooks, calculation books, documents and drawing instruments of Isambard Kingdom Brunel 1830-1866, certain papers of Isambard Brunel, Jr. and Sir Marc Brunel, and also the letterbooks of Henry Marc Brunel.

ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL

Sketchbooks, 1830-1857
57 of Brunel's original sketchbooks which contain preliminary sketches for many of Brunel's projects. The majority of the sketchbook contents are in random order, with a few relating to specific projects.

Small Sketchbooks, c. 1837-1856, 17 volumes: DM 162/8, (DM 1758)
Large Sketchbooks, 1830-1857, 17 volumes: DM 162/8.
Great Western Railway Sketchbooks, 1836-1842, 18 volumes: DM 162/8.
Other Sketchbooks, 1835-c.1836, 5 volumes: DM 162/8.

Notebooks, 1827-1859
Brunel's personal notebooks, many of which contain notes and data on different projects undertaken by Brunel. There are also notebooks which focus on distinct projects.

Facts - miscellaneous notes and data, 1829-1844, 1 volume: DM 162/8/5
Clifton Suspension Bridge notes, sketches and calculations, 1829-1850, 4 volumes: DM 162/8/1-4
General Calculation books, 1834-1841 and 1850-1858, 3 volumes: DM 162/25
Notebooks on data from experiments with the Polyphemus and Rattler steamships, 1841-1844, 2 volumes: DM 162/13-14
Notebooks and memoranda about the SS Great Eastern, Royal Albert Bridge, South London, Southampton and Salisbury and other railways, 9 volumes, 1856-1857: DM162/3
Agenda book, mainly concerning the Great Western Railway, 1837-1844: DM162/21
Books of notes and calculations about the Cheltenham Railway, [1840s]: DM162/26; about various railway projects, 1848-[1849]: DM162/19; and about Bristol docks, 1839-1840: DM162/23.

Letterbooks, 1832-1866
Copies of Brunel's outgoing correspondence and the outgoing correspondence of his office. Letterbooks, 1832-1866, 15 volumes: DM 162/10.

Letters from Bradford Leslie to Isambard Kingdom Brunel, 1856-1857, DM162/4;

Drawing tools of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Henry Marc Brunel, 1 wooden chest: DM 162/5.

Notebook and calculation book, SS Great Eastern: DM 162/15-16

Proprietors' proxy form, Great Western Railway, DM162/11

Manuscript draft history of the SS Great Western, SS Great Britain, and SS Great Eastern: DM162/12.

Report on the atmospheric railway by Robert Stephenson, DM162/22.

Accounts, DM162/20

MARC ISAMBARD BRUNEL

Two volumes of diaries, 1822-1823: DM162/1
Bound volume of letters, reports, and other papers concerning the Thames Tunnel, DM162/2

HENRY MARC BRUNEL

Letterbooks, sketchbooks, letters, diaries, account books, and other financial records, 1856-1903: DM162/6
Letters, 1863-1903: DM162/7

ISAMBARD BRUNEL, jnr

7 letters, 1863-1891: DM162/9
Date1824-1953
Related MaterialThe main catalogue entries for the Brunel collection can be found at DM1306 and DM1758. Additional material can be found by using the Online Archive Catalogue search.
Extent70 boxes, 22 rolled plans and 4 plan chest drawers.
URLhttps://www.bristol.ac.uk/library/special-collections/strengths/brunel/
https://www.ssgreatbritain.org/collections-and-research/
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Access ConditionsThe Brunel Collection can be consulted at the Brunel Institute, a collaborative venture of the University of Bristol and the SS Great Britain Trust. To make an appointment to view the Collection, please contact the Brunel Institute, SS Great Britain, Great Western Dockyard, Bristol, BS1 6TY. For further information, see the Brunel Institute website. Some items are fragile and surrogates may be provided to avoid damage.

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