The Failed Thames Tunnels

Рет қаралды 53,741

Жыл бұрын

This week we explore the story pf the two attempts to tunnel under the Thames, that failed! Its the turn of the 1800's and tunnel builders of the world are finding their way with al kinds of transportation ideas. At the forefront it seems Trevithick was often there... but building a Tunnel?
Sources:
Pictures: Stated within video
Underlying research from various sources but a significant amount from: Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers. Vol.1. 1500 - 1830. Sir Alec Skempton.
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Пікірлер: 188

@willallen7757 Жыл бұрын

Rebecca walking away in the background is actually quite funny.

@swoop1352 Жыл бұрын

There's a drinking game in this vid.....down a shot every time you spot Rebecca.

@highpath4776 Жыл бұрын

@@swoop1352 Thought she might have gone up the Ladder, or in the speed boat

@kieranbeecroft8414 Жыл бұрын

@@swoop1352 I was drunk 2 minutes in :D

@Dirt-Diggler Жыл бұрын

Came to say the same 👍 Spot the Becca game 😁

@robertansell4538 Жыл бұрын

We thinking 🤔 same

@tangletwigsfairymeadow6243 Жыл бұрын

LOL love the drive by cameos

@LeoStarrenburg Жыл бұрын

I'm nearly 3 minutes into the video and already spending more time playing "spot the redhead" than paying attention to the tunnels. Have to watch this one twice.

@dafyddhumphreys8921 Жыл бұрын

Spent all day watching these videos, it's more than just facinating. It's about preserving the fantastic engineering

@royjacques5650 Жыл бұрын

I liked the bits where Rebecca kept popping up .

@___Stephan_D___ Жыл бұрын

Rebecca is now multi role, figuration in the background, cameraman, and Director ... ;-)

@mattjpearce Жыл бұрын

Rebecca in the background made me watch twice to catch all her appearances, another brilliant video 😁

@raphaelnikolaus0486 Жыл бұрын

LOVED this one. For several reasons! 😃

@johnledingham852 Жыл бұрын

Very interesting Paul. You do the research, and all the legwork, and filming, I'll keep lapping it up ole sausage!

@paulinehedges5088 Жыл бұрын

Another really fascinating video . Never knew there were those attempts to tunnel under the Thames..Thank you as always.. no need to be so shy Rebecca we spotted your hair in the background!

@davie941 Жыл бұрын

hello Paul and Rebecca , cool video as always , really well done and thank you guys , oooo so close to going down lol , 😊

@18robsmith Жыл бұрын

Rebecca didn't exactly have a speaking part, but did make a valid contribution 🤣

@Seansmit23 Жыл бұрын

Was that her walking past at 58sec? lol

@hannelais5981 Жыл бұрын

@@Seansmit23 hahah I think so

@martinburke8314 Жыл бұрын

Walking away a couple of times, and sitting on the steps behind Paul on another occasion.

@mkendallpk4321 Жыл бұрын

That was very well done. I never knew about this Thames tunnel attempt until now. Looking forward to more on this subject. And Paul, glad you didn't slide into the Thames. Stay dry.

@tomgruitt6563 Жыл бұрын

Excellent walking around from Rebecca!

@Rail_Focus Жыл бұрын

It's amazing they got as far as they did without something like Greathead Shield used by Brunel to build the successful tunnel.

@pwhitewick Жыл бұрын

Yup, sheer determination and a cash incentive I feel!

@Urbexy Жыл бұрын

Yet another brilliant video. Today we take tunnels pretty much for granted. It's when we look towards the early years of tunnel engineering and the failed attempts that we realise they are incredible they really are.

@keith800 Жыл бұрын

Brilliant video , especially about Trevithick's attempt he seemed so near yet so far , there again the Tower subway seems to get forgotten about.

@archi3020 Жыл бұрын

Another good video thanks. First time watching a video with no comments and no views

@RobertSmith-zv1xo Жыл бұрын

Not the obvious place for you to explore even failed tunnels, but it made it even more interresting.

@Nethead Жыл бұрын

Always look forward to these informative vids 👍 Thank you

@lordbisnick3932 Жыл бұрын

Ended up watching twice as I was concentrating on looking for the next Rebecca appearance the first time. Love your humour.

@rcurtisfl02hsv Жыл бұрын

Love Rebecca's appearances in the background!!!

@Sim0nTrains Жыл бұрын

Love the outtake at the end, really enjoyed the video. Would had through Trevithick would had got the job done and build a tunnel but it one of those close but no cigar kind of endings

@highpath4776 Жыл бұрын

I think Marc Brunel had problems with the Northern Shore under the thames

@lindamccaughey6669 Жыл бұрын

Oh why didn’t he land on his bum? I’m one who would laugh my head off. I really did enjoy this video. Thanks so much for taking me along. Please stay safe and take care

@simonbradshaw3708 Жыл бұрын

Another interesting little story, you seem to be jumping around with your content, to keep us all guessing I presume? I'll look forward to see where you take us next Sunday.

@ReubenAshwell Жыл бұрын

Brilliant video and very fascinating to hear about the tunnel that Trevithick attempted to buld across the thames. The outtake at the end was quite funny. :)

@pwhitewick Жыл бұрын

Nearly stacked it

@shirleylynch7529 Жыл бұрын

What an interesting video. You always bring us something fresh and enjoyable. So thank you.

@wetdogFBK Жыл бұрын

Interesting stuff. Looking forward to your coverage of Marc Brunel 's tunnel. A word of warning however, exercise caution when in London, you may have a stalker.

@spitfire1962 Жыл бұрын

And foot tunnels as well as road and rail.

@troyw8338 Жыл бұрын

You just gotta love the human spirit, hmm, I think I can build a tunnel under this river. 🤔 Funny we don't have an elevator to the space station yet, we better get started. 😊

@lilchris26 Жыл бұрын

Nice video again Paul, lots of information, love it...chris

@davidnm21 Жыл бұрын

Interesting little video thanks Paul and Rebecca

@mistywolf312 Жыл бұрын

Same problems as they have now when it came to the tube tunnels, the land under the Thames isnt just clay, its a band of clay with a band of shale and some sand, with very little rock, its a nightmare and the boring machines they had to invent to finally achieve dry tunnels is a testament to the brilliance of the engineers of those times.

@pwhitewick Жыл бұрын

Couldn't agree more.

@hublebubble Жыл бұрын

Great cameo appearances by Rebecca 🤣🤣🤣

@phaasch Жыл бұрын

Fascinating. Never knew anything about these failed attempts. So does this mean that there is an abandoned driftway, presumably lined with timber and filled with Thames sludge, like some WW1 trench tunnel, waiting to be discovered, one distant day in the future, when the Thames has either dried up, or changed it's course? And that discovery will be met with incomprehension- "why dig this far, and then just stop?- our distant ancestors were mad!"

@highpath4776 Жыл бұрын

Did Marc Brunel use bits of it

@phaasch Жыл бұрын

@@highpath4776 can't think how. Different tunnelling method altogether. Plus, the drift would have been completely flooded in a fairly short time after it's abandonment. From the map, it looks like Brunel's tunnel was slightly to the west.

@mattbutler5095 Жыл бұрын

Another great video , Thank-you for the effort you put into giving us great content to watch , and best of luck to you both in the future of you’re channel; best of luck to everyone as well , take care all 👍👍👍

@brianartillery Жыл бұрын

Great video about some tunnels that I had no prior knowledge of. Thank you for that. 👍👍👍

@nickhealey3388 Жыл бұрын

Interesting and well researched as always!

@miketherefurbisher8000 Жыл бұрын

Great Stuff as always guys!! Hope your both well. Thank You!!

@ThatCoalSoul Жыл бұрын

* you're *

@biggles50405 Жыл бұрын

Very surreal with a Rebecca scooting by in the opposite direction at the start 🤔 Interesting subject, thanks folks.

@paulmunton1483 Жыл бұрын

Hi there, awesome tubes. But why is Rebecca hiding in the background. This channel needed both of you. .

@willbronk Жыл бұрын

Agreed

@manmeetsinghmahajan6183 Жыл бұрын

Amazing.

@AtheistOrphan Жыл бұрын

6:35 - Chinook!

@muddydave01 Жыл бұрын

Unfinished London did these as well but not in as much detail. Well done, and say hi Rebecca once you're talking to each other again.

@pwhitewick Жыл бұрын

Seen them all but don't recall that. Can you remind me which episode?

@bd4_l Жыл бұрын

Very, very interesting information. Loved the video!

@barrycrump6189 Жыл бұрын

Fascinating stuff - thank you.

@lesbendo6363 Жыл бұрын

Good video. Look forward to the next tunnel video!

@MrGreatplum Жыл бұрын

Excellent stuff, Paul. That must have been a lot of research… Have you realised there was a redhead that kept following you? 😜

@dylvasey Жыл бұрын

I'm impressed you pronounced the name correctly.

@robertwedd1111 Жыл бұрын

Nice one Team. 😉👍

@matt6477 Жыл бұрын

Thank you

@ThatCoalSoul Жыл бұрын

So this is could be considered Unfinished London? Jay! Paul was in your territory again!!!

@pwhitewick Жыл бұрын

I think it definitely could!

@a11csc Жыл бұрын

great vid makes ya wonder what if they had have worked

@WC21UKProductionsLtd Жыл бұрын

Thanks for this - really interesting.

@huwzebediahthomas9193 Жыл бұрын

1803 was when my local tramway opened, Carmarthenshire Tramway. Coal and iron ore to down the valley in Llanelli. Much still visible. Became the Llanelly and Mynydd Mawr Railway most of it about sixty years later. Interesting history. Horse drawn wagons on strange rails.

@UKAbandonedMineExplores Жыл бұрын

Can you imagine finding a way into that original tunnel and pumping it out, would be amazing. Did I see the distinctive hair of Rebecca go the other way? An Easter egg sir?, after all, your 3rd person view camera was not floating, love it lol. The end proved my hypothesis ;)

@hedleythorne Жыл бұрын

Superb

@pwhitewick Жыл бұрын

Cheers Hedley

@huwzebediahthomas9193 Жыл бұрын

Oh dear lord - London! Get better soon, hope you've both recovered. 🤪

@ABrit-bt6ce Жыл бұрын

Brill, full of stuff that I've never heard of. :)

@huwzebediahthomas9193 Жыл бұрын

O4:00 Jesus, very Clockwork Orange 2022 - quiver! 😁

@steve.b.23 Жыл бұрын

0:58 Is that Rebecca walking in the opposite direction?

@marksmith334 Жыл бұрын

No it’s Geoff Marshall in a wig

@vibingwithvinyl Жыл бұрын

Same person at 0:07

@steve.b.23 Жыл бұрын

@@marksmith334 😆

@robinhayhurst5943 Жыл бұрын

I think it's the only way she can get any sort of air time!

@steve.b.23 Жыл бұрын

Having seen the out-take, I think it is.

@andrewmcgarvie3981 Жыл бұрын

Looks like you are stepping on Unfinished London's toes. Time for a crossover with Jay Foreman?

@LoveBristol Жыл бұрын

Looks like you were both in a playful mood for this one.... 😊😊

@thomasdieckmann5711 Жыл бұрын

very interesting - I only knew Brunels tunnel before!

@ThatCoalSoul Жыл бұрын

* Brunel's *

@gaugeonesteam Жыл бұрын

Great stuff this! and news to me.

@Blade_Daddy Жыл бұрын

Can't miss several Rebecca's

@johncrichton4341 Жыл бұрын

I wished you 2 had said you were coming my way - you could've popped in for a tea!

@timengineman2nd714 Жыл бұрын

Clay is not load bearing, which is why you normally dig tunnels that have weight (like a large river) on top of them! Water will find any and every flaw underneath it (which is why coal mines in a lot of places need pumps) and will flood out tunnels and shafts!!!

@sianwarwick633 Жыл бұрын

5:12 your search term was 'Thames' !? I hope the document group was specific. I know of a Trevithick from Cornwall, too.

@user-ol2mr4bx7c Жыл бұрын

I don't understand why did Trevithick get fired? (amazing channel)

@marcdebruin2425 Жыл бұрын

Great video! Love the Rebecca cameo’s! (On purpose?)

@davidberlanny3308 Жыл бұрын

Very interesting video as always very professionally presented. If you come across a copy of Brunel's Kingdom by John Christopher it's worth picking it up, it tells the story of his works starting with the Rotherhithe tunnel. Lots of good info. Good luck from Spain!!

@chrismccartney8668 Жыл бұрын

Local Area see you found the sandy bit of foreshore

@malcolmsmith6615 Жыл бұрын

Brilliant! How did you discover the exact position of the shafts etc? Good research clearly! Two tunnel attempts that I knew nothing about, so thank you.

@pwhitewick Жыл бұрын

Basically we didn't. The main clues where newspaper articles where they stated 315ft inland and the Horseferry Steps. That's pretty much all we had to go with

@edwardlees4585 Жыл бұрын

A really interesting video. Thanks. Watch out for that flame-haired mermaid who seems to be stalking you.

@timofthomas Жыл бұрын

Playing "Where's Wally" with Rebecca in each scene! -PS when you were countring steps and looking for stairs... did you allow for the river changes resulting from the installation of the Victorian Sewers, narrowing of the Thames etc?

@TheCelts01 Жыл бұрын

Great Video guys as always very interesting. All the best Deano und Fan Club in Hamburg Germany.

@JP_TaVeryMuch Жыл бұрын

Moin Moin!

@TheCelts01 Жыл бұрын

@@JP_TaVeryMuch moin moin J p

@radiosnail Жыл бұрын

Did not about either of these attempts. Thankyou

@timeflysintheshop Жыл бұрын

Do we get bonus points for noticing Rebecca in the background several times? 🤔😁

@pwhitewick Жыл бұрын

Well of course

@juncusbufonius Жыл бұрын

Before the outtake I had noticed (Stan Lee/Hitchcock) the extra a couple of times.

@robertlewis2 Жыл бұрын

I like being able to follow along on Google maps.

@bullettube9863 Жыл бұрын

It seems very strange to see Paul walking around London instead of the countryside but still a good video. I knew of some of the ideas proposed for building a Thames tunnel but never knew that anyone had actually tried before Brunel's father. Finding sand was a surprise at the time, but modern geology shows that the Thames has meandered in it's course; creating sand banks and deposits of muck here and there. Now if somebody can build a tunnel allowing 747s or at least 727s to pull up under downtown London from Heathrow that would be a feat worth talking about!

@gordanmilne7034 Жыл бұрын

There aren't many 727s or 747s left, A380s and A321s maybe.

@bullettube9863 Жыл бұрын

@@gordanmilne7034 True, the last commercial flight of a 727 was three years ago and it has been replaced by the 757. The 747 is the benchmark for large aircraft and the Boeing Dream liners and Airbus 380s are simply improved 747s.

@PK_Blinder Жыл бұрын

There's a few red heads in London on that day... 🤔😏

@tardismole Жыл бұрын

So, in theory at least, the tunnel is still there. Interesting.

@TheSkskitey Жыл бұрын

Nice story Paul . Whats Rebecca doing sneaking around in the background , your hair colour is a giveaway :-)

@JP_TaVeryMuch Жыл бұрын

I think that it's illegal to use Trevithick's name without mentioning that he is the inventor of the steam locomotive, not some other bloke at the other end of the country either. Love tunnels, me so it was good to have more info on these. Thanks. One more thing: you see what you've started here? A good half of the comments were about her Ladyship. A good percentage of which say the very same thing. Do people not read the comments?

@richardeyers322 Жыл бұрын

my part of the world.[was] if you look hard enough theres parts of london[under] that lots of people dont know.it there,

@neilthehermit4655 Жыл бұрын

An indirect tribute to Bernard Cribbins ? - " Hole in the ground" . RIP. Also why is Rebecca hiding ? Only three glimpses. - We was robbed ! chuckle.

@trevormstone Жыл бұрын

Love the cameos, but trying to work out who the jogger is at 0:46 - don’t think it’s Geoff Marshall, although that would be brilliant!

@ManicXD Жыл бұрын

Too much beard for it to be Geoff, but it would have been an excellent cameo if it were him!

@AmedeeVanGasse Жыл бұрын

Have you ever considered a collab with youtuber Jago Hazzard from Tales from the Tube?

@huwzebediahthomas9193 Жыл бұрын

He's funny he is. Trains that go nowhere. 🤓

@robinhayhurst5943 Жыл бұрын

If Rebecca subscribed to your patreon, would she get more air time?

@deanwebb4809 Жыл бұрын

Brunell son is at kensal green go there next bud I love my history

@seansmith445 Жыл бұрын

5:32 How is there sand on the banks of the Thames when usually it would be mud?

@robinhayhurst5943 Жыл бұрын

I understand making comments on your videos, helps with your You Tube statistics, so I thought I'd write a comment to help with this!

@pwhitewick Жыл бұрын

I understand that me replying to such comments also helps, so hey, here we both are.

@robinhayhurst5943 Жыл бұрын

@@pwhitewick It's just that I'm getting bored at saying how good your videos are, and I like Rebecca's red hair (even if the roots are showing) so I can't say anything nasty about that.

@oskarsrode2167 Жыл бұрын

As they actually reached the other side, it might be argued to be the first tunnel under a navigable river. Is there anything left of the tunnel? Was it lined with something (bricks?) or was it just propped up like a mine?

@pwhitewick Жыл бұрын

Very good point Oskars. I had assumed just a mine driftway so no lining.

@HeinrichDixon Жыл бұрын

Best be careful in 'That London', Paul: You've acquired a weird stalker! 🍌😉

@davekirwin Жыл бұрын

Of course I'm bias as I like London stuff and I've stood on that very shore line, but interesting content nevertheless! More! (I am available as general dogsbody if req)