Brunel’s tunnelling shield

The first successful tunnelling shield, developed and patented in 1818 Marc Isambard Brunel and Lord Cochrane. It was used in the construction of the Thames Tunnel as of 1825.

The Thames tunnelling shield was rectangular and consisted of twelve linked wooden frames. The frames were secured with moveable wooden planks, advancing in the direction of tunnelling. Behind the shield, workmen lined the tunnel wall with bricks, the shield’s frame being connected to the brick wall by means of adjustable screws. The shield was constructed in the workshop of Henry Maudslay.

Cite as: Brunel’s tunnelling shield. In: Travel Reports of a Pioneer: Digital Edition of the Travel Journals of Johann Conrad Fischer 1794–1851. Published by Franziska Eggimann. Edited by Franziska Eggimann, Nicolau Lutz, Valerija Rukavina und Christopher Zoller-Blundell. Schlatt 2023, Version 1.2, https://johannconradfischer.com/en/keywords/gfa-keywords-8845, viewed on 5 November 2026.