Makers of British History in the
18th C
Thomas Telford
“Colossus of Roads”
1757 - 1834
This is a short PowerPoint presentation by Victor T.C. Middleton, on the
remarkable life and significance of Thomas Telford – Civil Engineer.
Telford’s contributions are set In the context of the transport/industrial/and
technological revolutions of the 18th Century.
The slides were used as a basis for a talk given to U3A on October 21st 2014
In the Coronation Hall, Ulverston.
The sources on Telford are vast because of the significance of the man in his
time and his legacy, which lives on. Those who seek further information may
find it helpful to start with:
S. Smiles; 1861; The Life of Thomas Telford: Civil Engineer; Updated 2011
L.T.C. Rolt; 1958; Thomas Telford;
Peter Smith; 1972; Waterways Heritage; for Museum & Art Gallery, Luton
Telford around 1797
Context of transport in
England pre 1700
Turnpike Roads in the 18th century
Transport pre 1700
• Rich rode and poor walked - goods by cart or
pack horse…………
• Roman Roads linking key Forts and early canals –
but largely left to decay for centuries
• 16th C focus on rivers and navigation
improvements
• 1663 First Turnpike Act; Commercial Turnpike
Trusts established in 1706 - Toll roads (but 50 years
on for major impact – road engineering by blind John
Metcalfe)
The industrial revolution was full on energy, enterprise and
hard graft – but not pretty
Industrial Revolution
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1709 - Abraham Darby (1) - Iron works at
1761 - Bridgewater Canal
1764 - Arkwright’s Spinning Jenny
1774 - James Watt - rotary steam engine
1771 - World’s first factory established
1770s - London Stock Exchange created
Industrial Revolution impossible without
affordable means of moving goods for trade,
raw materials and finished goods - and for
making urbanisation and factory production
possible for domestic and international
markets
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Coal
Iron
Textiles
Agricultural supplies
Manufactured goods
Also impossible without pioneering designer/engineers
whose vision, skill, energy, determination and enterprise
would drive projects through to conclusion.
“The men who built our bridges, docks, lighthouses,
canals and railways were mostly country bred boys who
were originally hands-on craftsmen and self taught in the
science, technology and arts of their projects. They laid
the foundations of what became the civil engineering
profession” (Rennie was the exception)
Brindley, Smeaton, Jessop, Metcalf and Telford
Canals and Rivers in England and Wales
“ The opening up of the internal communications of a
country is undoubtedly the first and most important
element of its growth in commerce and civilisation.”
Richard Cobden (1804 – 1865)
Telford’s Early Days
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Son of a shepherd in Eskdale, Dumfries – Langholm
Orphaned in year he was born
Learned the basic 3 R’s at a Parish School
Apprenticed at 14 to a stone mason where he first
learned the intricacies of masonry and craftsmanship
Including work on his first bridge
Known as ‘Laughing Tam’ for his good humour. Found
Early supporter/patron in a Miss Pasley
Edinburgh New Town
Achievements and some Key Dates
1780 - (aged 23 employed as mason in Edinburgh
1782 - to London and work on Somerset House
1784 - Superintendent of Port Admiral’s House in
Portsmouth (designed by Samuel Wyatt)
1786 - (aged 29) Surveyor of Public Works for the
County of Salop. Designing and constructing
bridges, roads, public buildings – project
management
1793- (aged 35) Invited to be sole agent, architect and
engineer for the Ellesmere Canal
Telford the remarkable man
• Humble origins, little formal education
• Totally dedicated; honest and upright; trusted and respected
• Methodical, nothing to chance, an excellent judge of character
• ‘Laughing Tam’
• A scholar by instinct and practice - and a poet
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct over the River Dee
PontyCysyllte Aqueduct 1795-1803
• 1500 ft embankment into valley of the Dee
• Masonry piers supporting 19 arches across the
river and valley - over 1000 ft long
• Cast iron trough for the canal 127 ft above the
river
Chirk Aqueduct 1801 with rail way bridge behind
Some Key Achievements – still standing and operational
1803 – Pont-Cysylltau and Chirk aqueducts
1803 – Roads and bridges in Lowlands and Highlands
of Scotland (1200 bridges over next two decades)
1804 – 1822 Caledonian Canal (Rennie and Watt)
1810 - Gotha Canal in Sweden (55 miles)
1814 – Dundee Harbour
Craigellachie Bridge - Highlands.
Suspension Bridge over the Menai Straight
Menai Straights Suspension Bridge - 1825
• Largest structure of its type ever attempted –
to Link Holyhead, Birmingham and London
• Months of methodical experimentation using
latest iron techniques – all supervised by
Telford (only reference to sleepless nights)
• 7 masonry arches; two massive piers 153 ft
high; 16 chains to suspend the roadway
• One chain was 570 ft long weighing 23.5 tons
Suspension Bridge at Conway Castle
Canals and Rivers in England and Wales
More lasting achievements
1816 - Design of Carlisle to Glasgow Road
1818 - Grand Trunk Canal Sections
1822 - (1804) Caledonian Canal (Rennie and
Watt)
1824 - Harecastle Tunnel (16’ high and 14’
broad) 3,926 ft long
1826 - Birmingham and Liverpool Junction
1827 - St Katherines Dock London
1834 - Design to improve docks at Dover
St Katherine’s Dock, London
Dover Harbour – a modern view
Telford’s Philosophy
“We do not consider anything to be impossible. Impossibilities
exist chiefly in the prejudices of mankind , to which some are
slaves and from which few are able to emancipate themselves and
enter on the path of truth.” (Bridge over the Danube)
He admired commercial enterprise and its activity, energy and
intelligence. “But I hold that the aim and end of all ought not
to be a bag of money, but something far higher and far better.”
A tribute from Robert Southey Poet Laureate and close friend
“ Telford’s is a happy life; everywhere making
roads, building bridges, forming canals and
creating harbours – works of sure, solid,
permanent utility; everywhere employing a
great number of persons, selecting the most
meritorious, and putting them forward in the
world in his own way.”
Telford’s Influential Legacy lives on
• Designed and built to last!
• Pivotal role in a national transport system
• Pioneered and developed the engineering
design and project management techniques
• International figure
• First President; Institution of Civil Engineers
• Influence on Victorian Red Brick universities?