The first sub-acqueous tunnel in the world went from Rotherhithe to Wapping, and was designed and built by Marc Brunel*. It was completed in 1843. Strangely, it is now part of the London Overground rail system.
“It is said that all the shares of this undertaking are filled up, and Parliament has given leave to bring in a bill to carry it into effect. The attempt, therefore, will once more be made in good earnest, under the direction of an engineer named Brunel *. The plan proposed in this instance to be pursued is perfectly novel and original, and consists in the combination of ten or twelve iron frames, presenting in front an area equatl to the opening which is to be made for the body of the tunnel. Thus 30 or 36 men can operate in so many independent cells. These frames are moved forward in proportion to the space excavated, and the brick-work is then urged on, so as to leave as little of the surrounding earth as psssible unsupported or unprotected. In this way the tunnel is made to “drag its slow length along”# to its termination, which Mr Brunel looks to in about two years. – Should the attempt be successful, it will be a proud addition to our national works, and the only structure of its kind in the world.”
The Stamford Mercury, 21st May, 1824.
*Father of Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
# The quotation is from ‘An Essay on Criticism Part 2’, by Alexander Pope: “A needless alexandrine ends the song, That, like a wounded snake, drags its slow length along.”