Brunel in South Wales 2: Coal, communications and links to leviathans

Overview

A series of online talks for ICE Wales Cymru, in conjunction with the South Wales Institute of Engineers Educational Trust (SWIEET) and the Newcomen Society, by Stephen K. Jones. Stephen is the Wales representative for the Panel for Historical Engineering Works (PHEW), on historical engineering works in Wales and the wider world and has particular interest in Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Captain Sir Samuel Brown.

The Welsh landscape challenged Brunel to develop innovative engineering solutions and he worked extensively with Welsh industry including Brown Lenox.

The first two talks concern Brunel’s works in South Wales and the last two on the history of the suspension bridge in a worldwide context whilst illustrating the pioneering work of Samuel Brown and the Brown Lenox chainworks he established in south Wales. The impact of the railway on its development and decline is also covered in the last talk.

Brunel in South Wales - Part 2: Coal, communications and links to leviathans

In post crisis South Wales, Brunel was engaged in the completion of the SWR and determining a new terminus. There were also numerous mineral lines, all on his seven foot broad gauge. On the Vale of Neath Railway an early form of containerisation was developed for coal traffic and Brunel designed Briton Ferry docks to handle some of the output. His three great ships also had connections with South Wales, particularly his great leviathan, the PSS Great Eastern steamship, which was laid up at Milford Haven.