Michael P wrote:There's a museum for the Brunel Tunnel that's worth a peek if you're into that sort of thing (I am!) it's just by Rotherhithe Station. There's a decent pub called the Mayflower opposite too!
Debrajoan wrote:Had an estate agent's flyer in the mailbox yesterday with some local history on it.
The Thames Tunnel was the first to have been constructed beneath a navigable river.
(Whether this was in the world or just U.K. it didn't say.)
Completed in 1843 it runs from Wapping to Rotherhithe, and is the same tunnel that now carries the Overground line.
Dubbed the 8th. Wonder of the World, the tunnel became a pedestrian underground marketplace with stalls selling all manner of goods, and entertainment from fortune tellers to dancing monkeys.
The Rotherhithe tunnel was built in 4 years, from 1904 to 1908 without a single casualty among the 800 men who built it.
This tunnel is designed with sharp bends, to prevent horses from seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, which might make them bolt for the exit.
Michael P wrote:Yep the Mayflower has improved, I thought it went downhill a few years ago but last time I went in there I was quite impressed. It wouldn't be my first choice but it was quite nice to sit out on the decking and have a few beers. I used to go there a lot in the 80/90's but then stopped.
I like the Ship too and the Angel, although I'll be honest as someone who was born on the other side of the river I'm more likely to head over to Wapping for my riverside pub fix (using the Tunnel of course, cheers Brunel!)
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