Isambard Kingdom Brunel might be the most famous engineer of all time, but as a new series of exhibitions in Bristol is setting out to show, there’s much more to Brunel than most people ever see.
Next to the Bristol Docks, where Brunel’s famous SS Great Britain now resides, is the docks library where many of Brunel’s drawings, letters and other personal artefacts are kept.
The library is open to the public, but to encourage non-academics through its doors they are running special exhibitions every Tuesday and Wednesday where they’ll show one artefact directly related to Brunel such as his pocket book, the galloping horse drawing from when he was six or perhaps the designs for the garden at Watcombe where he intended to retire.
Many of the artefacts will never have been seen by the public before and exactly what will be on display is both a mystery to those visiting and even the library staff who will decide at the last minute what to display.
Some of Brunel’s work is no longer used such as the SS Great Britain and the Great Eastern ship, but other parts such as the magnificant Clifton Suspension Bridge are still used by over 4 million vehicles a year to cross the River Avon.
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