# The Severn Tunnel

THE
SEVERN TUNNEL:
Its Construction and Difficulties.
1872-1887.
BY
THOMAS A. WALKER.
WITH FIVE PORTRAITS ON STEEL AND UPWARDS OF FORTY SKETCHES AND PLANS.
LONDON:
RICHARD BENTLEY & SON, NEW BURLINGTON STREET.
Publishers in Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen.
1888.
* Sir John Hawkshaw, F.R.S.
* Engraved by G. J. Stodart from a photograph by Barraud
DEDICATION.
The following account of some of the difficulties met with in the construction of the Severn Tunnel, and how they were surmounted, is, by kind permission, dedicated to the Engineer-in-Chief, Sir John Hawkshaw, of whose professional skill and indomitable perseverance the Tunnel itself will ever remain a lasting monument.
T. A. W.
June 14, 1888.
* Thomas A. Walker
* Engraved by G. J. Stodard from a photograph by Barbaud
* London, Richard Bentley and Son, 1888
| | Preface | vi |
| | List of Portraits on Steel | xi |
| | List of Illustrations | xiii |
| I. | Description of the estuary of the Severn, and the country in the immediate neighbourhood of the Severn Tunnel. | 1 |
| II. | The early history of the undertaking. | 11 |
| III. | The commencement of the works under the contract. | 26 |
| IV. | The final struggle. | 45 |
| V. | Great snow storm; strike among the miners; River Severn breaks in on the sea-wall side. | 59 |
| VI. | Tunnelling. | 77 |
| VII. | A year of good progress [1882]. | 98 |
| VIII. | Further progress and greater troubles. | 119 |
| IX. | A week of troubles. | 127 |
| X. | The means taken to deal with the great spring. | 137 |
| XI. | Side-heading drvien to Big Spring; completion of the Brickwork; Big Spring shut out; works passed by Board of Trade. | 144 |
| XII. | The men by whom the work was done. | 165 |
| | Appendix: Description of the large pumps by Messrs. Harvey, of Hayle Foundry. | 180 |
LIST OF PORTRAITS ON STEEL.
| Sir John Hawkshaw, F.R.S. | frontispiece |
| (engraved by J. G. Stodart) ||
| Mr. Thomas A. Walker | to face preface |
| (engraved by J. G. Stodart) ||
| Mr. Charles Richardson | to face page 12 |
| (engraved by W. H. Gibbs) ||
| Mr. J. Clarke Hawkshaw | 157 |
| (engraved by W. H. Gibbs) ||
| Mr. Harrison Hayter | 166 |
| (engraved by W. H. Gibbs) ||
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
| | TO FACE PAGE |
| View of Telford’s Bridge at Gloucester | 1 |
| „„The Severn (Railway) Bridge | 2 |
| „„Sudbrook Chapel | 4 |
| Map (1-inch Ordnance) showing Line of the Severn Tunnel | 10 |
| Plan of Sudbrook in 1873 (before the Severn Tunnel was commenced) | 14 |
| Plan showing Position of the Old Shaft, Iron Shaft, and Headings | 16 |
| Section showing all Headings driven when the ‘Big Spring’ broke in | 18 |
| Plan of Sudbrook in 1879 | 18 |
| Plan of Shield put in the Old Shaft to keep back the ‘Big Spring’ | 28 |
| Longitudinal Section of the Severn Tunnel, showing Geological Strata as found | 32 |
| Cross Section of Tunnel, showing Arch | 34 |
| Plan of Sudbrook in 1880 | 38 |
| Plan of Headwalls and Doors in the Heading at Sudbrook | 54 ​ |
| View of Portskewett Pier, with the Tunnel Works in the distance | 66 |
| Plan of Methods of Timbering Headings | 80 |
| „„‘Breaking up’ from the Heading | 82 |
| „„Break-up Length with Centres | 84 |
| „„Timbering for Tunnel in Soft Ground | 86 |
| Section showing Method of Sinking 29-foot Shaft and Curbs | 88 |
| View of Sir John Hawkshaw inspecting the Works, and at Work in the Tunnel | 102 |
| Plan of the Infirmary at Sudbrook | 106 |
| „„the New Mission Hall, Sudbrook | 108 |
| View of Sudbrook | 118 |
| Plan of Sudbrook in 1882 | 118 |
| „„Cavity, Headwall, and all Headings near the ‘Big Spring’ | 124 |
| View of the Temporary Engine-Houses at Sudbrook | 130 |
| „„the Permanent Engine-Houses at Sudbrook | 130 |
| „„Men in Boat sawing the Timber | 132 |
| „„Flooded Cutting | 134 |
| Plan of the Temporary Pumping-Engines for the Great Spring and Pumps in the Tunnel | 138 |
| Elevation of Temporary Engine-Houses for the Great Spring | 140 |
| View of the Fever Hospital at Sudbrook | 142 |
| Plan of the Fever Hospital at Sudbrook | 142 |
| „„Side-Heading to the Great Spring | 146 |
| „„Fissure and all Headings at Great Spring | 148 |
| „„Sudbrook in 1884 | 150 |
| Progress Sections for the Years 1881-4 | 151 ​ |
| Plan of Permanent Pumps at Sudbrook—Engines and Pumps at top of Shaft | 164 |
| Plan of Permanent Pumps—Plan of Engines round Shaft | 164 |
| Plan of Permanent Pumps—Pumps in Shaft | 164 |