This illustration of the Thames Tunnel (pedestrian only) shows it when first opened by Marc Brunel in 1843. Invited guests enjoying a celebration dinner at the mouth of the tunnel. The tunnel had no commercial purpose until 1865 when it was adapted to serve as railway tunnel. Illustration from Guildhall Library.

The tunnel was built using the innovative device of a tunneling shield (source of sketch unknown). Navies could dig at the face in their own compartments and the shield could be inched forward as digging progressed.