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After his stonemason apprenticeship, Telford left for London in 1782, but success eluded him there. Read by Robin Laing.

After completing his apprenticeship to a stonemason in Langholm, Telford left for London in 1782 with letters of introduction to the two leading architects of the day: Robert Adam and William Chambers.

But success eluded him in the metropolis - instead, he found it in Shropshire, thanks to another Borders' contact, Sir William Pulteney, who invited him to work on the reconstruction of Shrewsbury Castle. This led on to his appointment as county surveyor and soon Telford was working on a huge number of public and private properties.

Julian Glover has written the first full modern biography of Thomas Telford: a shepherd's son, who revolutionised British engineering and set the stage for the Industrial Revolution.

Read by Robin Laing.

Abridged by David Jackson Young

Producer: Kirsteen Cameron.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2017.

15 minutes

On radio

Tue 27 Jan 202608:30
BBC Radio 4 Extra

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3. Masterpiece

See all episodes from Man of Iron: Thomas Telford and the Building of Britain

Credits

ReaderRobin Laing
AuthorJulian Glover
AbridgerDavid Jackson Young
ProducerKirsteen Cameron

Broadcasts

  • Tue 31 Jan 201709:45
    BBC Radio 4 FM
  • Wed 1 Feb 201700:30
    BBC Radio 4
  • Tue 4 Jan 202214:00
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Wed 5 Jan 202202:00
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 27 Jan 202608:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 27 Jan 202613:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 27 Jan 202619:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Wed 28 Jan 202603:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra