ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL

Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859) was a Mechanical and Civil Engineer of great note and built the Great Western Railway, a number of steamships, dockyards, bridges, viaducts and tunnels. Brunel was, to say the least, innovative, and had a marked impact on transport and modern engineering.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel at his desk

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PAGE FOUR: THE BRUNEL MEMORIAL

In the midst of an illustrious carrier, Brunel was taken ill just before the SS Great Eastern was to make her Maiden Voyage to New York. He had suffered a Stroke and died ten days later at the age of 53 on the 15th September, 1859. Brunel was a heavy smoker and a work-a-holic and unfortunately a likely candidate for suffering a Stroke.

Mr. Brunel, one week before his death

Brunel was buried in his family’s grave at the Kensall Green Cemetery (All Souls Cemetery) with his parents. Later, his wife and son would also be buried here.

(Left); Main Entrance to the Kensal Green Cemetery, London

The Brunel Family Grave, All Souls Cemetery, Kensal Green, London

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There is a Memorial to Isambard Kingdom Brunel on the outside of the western edge of the Temple Garden on Temple Place close to its junction with the Victoria Embankment.

Memorial to Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Temple Garden

The Memorial was erected in 1877 and features a statue made of bronze. This statue and that of George Stephenson (1803-1859) present at Euston Station were made by Baron Carlo Marochetti (1805-1867) and were originally planned to be placed in Parliament Square. The masonry part of the Memorial was designed by Richard Norman Shaw (1831-1912).

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Statues of Isambard Kingdom Brunel

In addition to this Memorial, there are a number of statues of him at Brunel University and Paddington Station, and also at Bristol, Plymouth, Swindon, Milford Haven and Saltash. The statue once present at Neyland was stolen in 2010 and I presume that it is still missing.

A Memorial Window to Mr. Brunel was erected in Westminster Abbey in 1868 on the north side of the Nave, but was moved to the south side in 1952 together with some slight alterations being made. The Window was designed by Norman Shaw with figures drawn by Henry Holiday and stained glass made by Heaton, Butler & Bayne.

Click here to see the Brunel Memorial Window

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Apparently Brunel did not care about money and accolades. He refused a Knighthood. It seems that Prince Albert suggested to Queen Victoria that he be Knighted for his services to the country. However, when offered Brunel refused it stating that it was enough reward to serve his country! (It is a pity that some of the more recent Knights of the Realm did not refuse theirs!)

Brunel was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in June 1830. He was a great supporter of the Great Exhibition of 1851 and was a member of the building committee.

Brunel joined the Institution of Civil Engineers as an Associate in January 1829 and became a Member in 1837. He was elected to its council in 1845 and, from 1850 until his death, he held the position of Vice-President. Brunel declined being President of the Institution in 1858 from ill-health.

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As a final point, Isambard Kingdom Brunel was placed second in a BBC Public Poll to determine the 100 Greatest Britons with Winston Churchill being voted in first place …… and who can disagree with this?!!!