In 2006, Isambard Kingdom Brunel was voted the second greatest Briton of all time, just after Winston Churchill. But did you know that Marc Brunel, his father and architect of the Thames Tunnel, was French?
Forced to flee during the French Revolution which began in 1789, Marc Brunel made his name in the UK.
In fact, the Revolution which saw the execution of Queen Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI touched the lives of both of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s parents.
Marc Brunel met his future wife Sophia Kingdom in France at the start of the political turmoil. While Marc fled, Sophia was imprisoned as a suspected spy.
To explore the Brunels’ connections to the French Revolution, we’ll be hosting a season of activity across Autumn/Winter 2025.
What’s in store:
- A brand-new display bringing together the oldest objects in the Museum’s collection – some on public display for the first time ever
- A series of film screenings, to explore the context of the political turmoil of the Revolution
- Special family events in the school holidays with revolutionary crafts