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24 September 2014
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Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Hidden Brunel in Somerset

Follow in the great man's footsteps, with our guide to Hidden Brunel around the county.


Almost everywhere you go in the West of England, you can find evidence of the work of Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

There are huge iconic structures, like the Clifton Suspension Bridge, and revolutionary designs, such as the magnificent ss Great Britain. Then there are the railway lines that he considered to be his finest achievements.

But if you look a little harder, there are all sorts of Hidden Brunel relics to be found.

As part of the BBC's coverage of Brunel's 200th anniversary, Points West's Amanda Parr and Dr Mark Horton from the University of Bristol went on a whistle-stop tour of the West to find some of the great man's lesser-known creations.

Here are details of the places they found in Somerset - and of some of your favourite Hidden Brunel sites. 

See how many you can spot while you're out and about... and if you know of any other places that should be on the list then get in touch!

Sydney Gardens, Sydney Road, Bath

These lovely gardens are full of bits of Hidden Brunel! His railway line runs through the middle of the park and it brings with it some fantastic engineering.

The tracks themselves aren't Brunel's (his tracks were laid further apart than the standard gauge tracks we have today) but the route is his work.

So are the bridges that take you over the lines and the elegant cutting that sweeps through the east side of the gardens.

The Syndey Road bridge is also a Brunel creation - see if you can spot the plaque with his name on!

Bathwick Hill, Bath

Jim Warren told us that Brunel's work in Sydney Gardens wasn't easy and left us with another piece of hidden legacy.

"Brunel had to tunnel underneath part of Bathwick Hill, where there was a complete Georgian Terrace called Raby Place.

"Brunel had one of the houses taken down, then he built his tunnel under the road, and where it cut Raby Place, he had the roof of the tunnel made sufficiently strong to hold the weight of a house and then rebuilt the house in its original style on top of his tunnel."

Old Goods Shed, Watchet (now Watchet Boat Museum)

John Nash e-mailed us to say: "The building dates back to 1862, when the Bristol and Exeter Railway ended here. We all know he was dead by then, but he did design it."

Clevedon Pier

Not a Brunel creation per se, but it does have a curious link with our man. When Brunel's broad-gauge railway lines were replaced with standard-gauge lines, some of the long sleepers ended up here - as Victorian decking.

The Royal Hotel, Portishead

Mike Nicholls tells us that the pub and nearby submerged dock are both part of Brunel's legacy.

Frome Railway Station

Patricia Oatley says that the station at Frome is attributed to Brunel.

last updated: 11/04/06
Have Your Say
Which pieces of Hidden Brunel do you know of? Drop us a line using the form below and we'll add your suggestions to this page.
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Hamish Mitchell
A section of Broad Gauge rail can been seen as a fencing post at Yatton Station. On the the down side(WSM)just before you turn to enter the platform.

Geof Sheppard
Hideen Brunel - Clevedon Pier It is not sleepers forming the decking, but rathe curious rails designed by William barlow which form the legs and girders supporting it. Broad gauge railway relics, yes ... but not really to do with Brunel.

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