Underground Collection (#9)

Front cover of Le Pays de France, 9 September 1915. French sappers placing a mine under a German trench. The placing of huge explosive mines in tunnels beneath enemy trenches became a common tactic

Great Pyramid of Cheops at Giza being used as an astronomical observatory. Illustration demonstrating Piazzi Smyths theory that a passage from the lower of the two subterranean chambers (A)

Great Pyramid of Cheops at Giza as an astronomical observatory. Diagram showing how the passage to the subterranean chamber (not shown) acted as an observing tube

Flooding during the excavation of the Thames Tunnel, London, 1828 (1836). Tom, Jerry and Logic having a narrow escape as water breaks through during a visit to the Thames Tunnel workings

The Thames Tunnel, London, 1832. Cross-section of Marc Isambard Brunels double-arched masonry tunnel beneath the Thames. The Thames Tunnel, connecting Wapping and Rotherhithe

Flooding during the excavation of the Thames Tunnel, London, 1828 (1836). On 12 January 1828, water flooded into the workings of Marc Isambard Brunels tunnel beneath the River Thames

Tunneling shield used in the construction of the Thames Tunnel, London, 1842
Tunneling shield used in the construction of the Thames Tunnel, London, 1825-1843. Men at work in the tunneling shield, patented in 1818 by the tunnels designer, Marc Isambard Brunel

Construction of the Thames Tunnel, London, 1825-1843. Section of Marc Isambard Brunels tunnel showing men at work in the tunneling shield (right) while others take away spoil

The Thames Tunnel, London, c1825-c1845. Cross-section showing the position of Marc Isambard Brunels double-arched masonry tunnel in relation to the Thames

Germain Sommeillers compressed air rock drill used in excavation of the Mont Cenis Tunnel, 1874
Germain Sommeillers compressed air rock drill used in the excavation of the Mont Cenis Tunnel, 1874. The Mont Cenis Tunnel was built between 1857

The Tunnel, 1831. Artist: Henry Pyall
The Tunnel, 1831. The worlds first passenger railway, the Liverpool and Manchester opened on 15 September 1830. Its principal engineer was George Stephenson (1781-1848)

Troops working in one of the underground artillery towers, Maginot Line, Worls War 2, c1940
Maginot Line, French defensive installation. Troops working in one of the underground artillery towers. Man in foreground is using a time-fuse setter. Early 1940

Hydraulic coal cutting machine, named The Iron Man, 1867
Hydraulic coal cutting machine, named The Iron Man, in position on rail track undergground in a coal seam. Made by Carrett, Marshall & Co. and shown at the Paris International Exposition of 1867

Sectional view of a typical Boer entrenchment, Boer War, c1900. The 2nd Boer War 1899-1902

Basuto miners in De Beers diamond mines, Kimberley, South Africa, c1885. In 1887 and 1888 Cecil Rhodes amalgamated the diamond mines around Kimberley, which included De Beers, into Consolidated Mines

Opening of the Mont Cenis railway tunnel linking France and Switzerland, 1871
Opening of the Mont Cenis railway tunnel linking France and Switzerland: the inauguration train passing through, September 1871

Interior of Marston Salt Mine, Northwich, Cheshire, England, c1880. This shows how pillars of rock have been left to support the roof

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