- Wikidata identifier:
- Q12053739
- Instance of:
- museum; charitable organization; independent museum
- Museum/collection status:
- Accredited museum
- Accreditation number:
- 1961
- Persistent shareable link for this record:
- https://museumdata.uk/museums/q12053739/
- Object records:
- Yes, see object records for this museum
Collection-level records:
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Collection history (Collection development policy)
The Brunel Museum is housed in the Engine House and Tunnel Shaft, both elements of Marc Isambard Brunel’s Thames Tunnel, built between 1825-43, the first tunnel under a navigable river anywhere in the world. In 1975, a group of enthusiasts took on the task of restoring the former Engine House, to create displays and show collections related to the Tunnel and the Brunel family. The Brunel Museum became an accredited museum in 1991. Its collections were at first very small, largely on loan from other institutions. The Museum has always implemented a strict collections development policy with a view to developing a coherent collection, though it has expanded its focus to encompass the SS Great Eastern, a steamship launched by Isambard Kingdom Brunel at Millwall, just downriver from the Museum. Several items have been donated by individuals, including former Trustees and descendants of the Brunels.
Source: Collection development policy
Date: 2024
Licence: CC BY-NC
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Collection overview (Collection development policy)
As of 2024, the Museum currently 154 objects, including objects on loan from private and public collections. The majority of the collections consist of works on paper – some 70 objects. This includes the Thames Tunnel watercolours, a set of 32 images produced by Brunel and his draughtsmen between 1818-43, which document the design and construction of the Thames Tunnel. These were acquired in 2017 at auction, thanks to the generous support of various institutions.
The Museum also holds a range of other objects, including:
- Three Thames Tunnel peepshows
- An 1828 model of the Thames Tunnel
- Items of dress (buckles, a fan, kerchiefs)
- Contemporary prints of the Thames Tunnel
- Souvenirs from the Thames Tunnel
- Large-scale models of the Thames Tunnel
- Two contemporary guidebooks of the Thames Tunnel
The Museum’s holdings of SS Great Eastern material includes:
- Photographs of the SS Great Eastern by Robert Howlett
- Printed ship plans by J.S. Russell
- A scrimshaw engraved conch shell
- A contemporary stereocard
The Museum is currently in the process of uploading all its objects to the online catalogue; about half of the collection is currently visible online.
Source: Collection development policy
Date: 2024
Licence: CC BY-NC