Thames Tunnel
THAMES TUNNEL, WAPPING HIGH STREET, BRUNEL ROAD
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1242119
- Date first listed:
- 24-Mar-1995
- List Entry Name:
- Thames Tunnel
- Statutory Address:
- THAMES TUNNEL, WAPPING HIGH STREET, BRUNEL ROAD
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2006-11-01
- Reference:
- IOE01/16165/20
- Rights:
- © Mr Stewart Monk. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1242119
- Date first listed:
- 24-Mar-1995
- List Entry Name:
- Thames Tunnel
- Statutory Address 1:
- THAMES TUNNEL, WAPPING HIGH STREET, BRUNEL ROAD
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- THAMES TUNNEL, WAPPING HIGH STREET, BRUNEL ROAD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- Southwark (London Borough)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- Tower Hamlets (London Borough)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ3513580028
Details
The entry was subject to a minor amendment on 25 July 2017.
TQ 3580
636-/5/10086 Thames Tunnel
II*
Underwater tunnel for human traffic. Begun 1825, completed 1843 by engineer Marc Isambard
Brunel with assistance from Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Brick bedded in Roman cement and faced
with clay tiles and stucco. Approx. 366m (1,200ft) long. Two parallel vaults of horseshoe section, 4.27m (14ft) wide by 4.88m (16ft)
high and joined at intervals by cross arches are encased in a rectangular brick framework 11.58m (38ft) wide
and 6.7m (22ft) high externally. At the end are access shafts 15.24m (50ft) across. Segmental arches separating the
two vaults 'rest' on Greek Doric half-columns with square abaci. Many arches have been filled in.
Stucco finish in 'ashlar' on top of red clay tile lining of tunnel.
HISTORY. Experimental attempts to construct a tunnel were made in 1805 by Robert Vazie and
again in 1808 by Richard Trevithick. The present tunnel was constructed on a new line to a revised
scheme by Marc Brunel (1769-1849) using a tunnelling shield designed by him and patented in
1818. The tunnel was opened on 26 May 1843. It remained a foot tunnel until 1865-9 when it was
converted for the East London Railway. Later used by electric underground trains (East London
Line).
Listing NGR: TQ3513580028
The asset was previously listed twice also under London Borough of Southwark at List entry 1378391. This entry was removed from the List on 25 July 2017.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 441472
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 16-Dec-2025 at 02:16:51.
Download a full scale map (PDF)© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2025. OS AC0000815036. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900.© British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2025. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.
End of official list entry