In 1994, after a few years working abroad in my role as a Quantity Surveyor for Taylor Woodrow Civil Engineering, I was offered a post on a new Contract to refurbish an old tunnel under the Thames, called the ‘Thames Tunnel’. At that time, in my ignorance, I knew little of its illustrious history, but that soon changed, when the tunnel became a Grade II* listed structure.

I spent two fascinating years on the project, spending many hours underground and learning about the enthralling history of the tunnel and the remarkable men that built it. This is the story of how that tunnel was built, the genius whose vision and tenacity enabled its construction and the very small part that I played in its continuing history.

If you ask a random selection of people to name the greatest British engineer, the almost certain reply would be…

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– By John Bostock