Are there any museums or sites in England honouring Isambard Kingdom Brunel?
I'm travelling to the UK from Australia and wanted to visit a number of sites of scientific history.
One at the top of my list is Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
I understand there are 10 surviving structures you can visit. I know you can visit his ship in Bristol - the SS Great Britain.
But can you visit a museum with a display about his life and works?
My question is: Are there any museums or sites in England honouring Isambard Kingdom Brunel?
Best Answer
In terms of a comprehensive museum, not yet.
However, if you are travelling in 2018 (or reading this reply in the future) then there will be a new museum called 'Being Brunel: the national Brunel project' opening in Bristol in a year's time.
The ss Great Britain Trust has today been awarded £4.78m by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for Being Brunel: the national Brunel project. The new museum, set to open in Bristol early 2018, will celebrate and explore Brunel, one of the world’s greatest engineers and designers.
The attraction will feature galleries and interactive experiences set in reconstructed buildings that reflect the original Victorian waterfront panorama. Brunel’s Drawing Office, a Grade II listed building, will be restored to become part of the new museum. Link
You can read more about the project here: http://www.ssgreatbritain.org/about-us/being-brunel
Pictures about "Are there any museums or sites in England honouring Isambard Kingdom Brunel?"
Are there any descendants of Isambard Kingdom Brunel?
There do not seem to be any direct descendants of Isambard with the surname BRUNEL. Isambard and his wife Elizabeth had three children: Isambard Brunel, Henry Marc Brunel (also a civil engineer) and Florence Mary Brunel.Why is Isambard Kingdom Brunel so revered by the British?
Isambard Kingdom Brunel facts His most famous achievement was his pioneering work in the design and construction of the Thames Tunnel. Prince Albert took a keen interest in the project, and it was this project that led to Marc's knighthood.Did Isambard Kingdom Brunel build the Great Western Railway?
It was engineered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who chose a broad gauge of 7 ft (2,134 mm)\u2014later slightly widened to 7 ft 1\u20444 in (2,140 mm)\u2014but, from 1854, a series of amalgamations saw it also operate 4 ft 81\u20442 in (1,435 mm) standard-gauge trains; the last broad-gauge services were operated in 1892. This box: view.Where did Isambard Kingdom Brunel live for most of his life?
Early life He was named Isambard after his father, the French civil engineer Sir Marc Isambard Brunel, and Kingdom after his English mother, Sophia Kingdom. He had two elder sisters, Sophia, the eldest child, and Emma. The whole family moved to London in 1808 for his father's work.More answers regarding are there any museums or sites in England honouring Isambard Kingdom Brunel?
Answer 2
@jl6's point in the comments is a good one, but deserves to be expanded upon (Brunel has been adopted as a local hero in Bristol). He's one of the few historical figures we've got who didn't directly get rich from the slave trade). See for example Isambard Kingdom Brunel, famous engineer and his work at Bristol (local tourism/history site) for a few more things to spot on the way between the main sites. The bridge has a visitor centre/small museum and tours, but unfortunately the limited tours of the vaults below the tower are mostly sold out this year.
Some of the best views of the bridge are from the western tip of Spike Island, only a mile on foot from the SS Great Britain. Trains from London via Bath bring you into Brunel's Temple Meads station along Brunel's GWR, but you may want to take stopping services to see some of the key features along the way.
Answer 3
You can see what items of the Science Museum's collection are on display, and in which museums, using their collection search. Putting in "Brunel" gets a few results, presumably as part of exhibits that discuss the man further.
Answer 4
In Swindon, you can find the museum of the Great Western Railway of whom Brunel was a chief engineer. As well as the story of the railway itself, it tells the story of how society thanks to the railway, and of Brunel's key role in the whole enterprise.
Answer 5
There's also the worlds oldest Wrought Iron railway bridge still in use: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windsor_Railway_Bridge
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: vectors icon, Stephen + Alicia, Pixabay, Ollie Craig