Thomas Telford - Softcover

Rolt, L T C

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0750945761 ISBN 13: 9780750945769

Publisher: The History Press, 2007

Synopsis

The son of a shepherd from the Scottish borders, Thomas Telford rose to be the greatest engineer in Victorian Britain. His life spanned one of the most dynamic periods in British history, the decades of the industrial revolution, and no one contributed more to making Britain the 'workshop of the world'.

About this title

Review:

"Mr. Rolt at the full height of his powers . . . animates the scene with life just as though some old print started out of its pages." --John Betjeman

"Mr. Rolt writes faithfully and thoroughly of Telford's work and achievements. He brings to their interpretation the outlook of an engineer." --Sunday Times

"Mr. Rolt realizes from the start that what makes Telford important is what he did, not what he was . . . an original writer on fresh themes; he knows his subject inside out." --Times Literary Supplement

Synopsis:

Thomas Telford, the son of a shepherd, was born in Westerkirk, Scotland in 1757. At the age of 14, he was apprenticed to a stonemason. He worked for a time in Edinburgh and in 1792, he moved to London where he was involved in building additions to Somerset House. Two years later, he found work at Portsmouth dockyard. In 1787, he became surveyor of public works for Shropshire. By this time, Telford had established a good reputation as an engineer and in 1790 was given the task of building a bridge over the River Severn at Montford. This was followed by a canal that linked the ironworks and collieries of Wrexham with Chester and Shrewsbury. This involved building an aqueduct over the River Dee. On the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Telford used a new method of construction consisting of troughs made from cast-iron plates and fixed in masonry. After the completion of the Ellesmere Canal Telford moved back to Scotland where he took control of the building of Caledonian Canal. Other works by Telford include the Menai Suspension Bridge (1819-1826) and the Katherine's Docks (1824-1828) in London. Telford was also an important road builder.

He was responsible for rebuilding the Shrewsbury to Holyhead road and the North Wales coast road between Chester and Bangor. During his life, Telford built more than 1,000 miles of road, including the main road between London and Holyhead. Thomas Telford died in 1834.

About this edition

• Publisher: The History Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0750945761
• ISBN 13: 9780750945769
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304