Historical Background

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Historical Background

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Engineering the Warrior Engineering the Warrior

in Portsmouth 21st Century Engineering in       Portsmouth

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Portsmouth Grammar School Crest
The Portsmouth Grammar School

HMS Warrior logo


VT Shipbuilding logo

 

Of all the engineers associated with the development of Great Britain’s industrial infrastructure Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s name is one which stands above all others. When it comes to the application of ingenuity to the solution of practical problems, once again I.K. Brunel is at the top of the list.

Thanks to Brunel and men like him, the nineteenth century was the age of the steam powered iron ship. Huge ocean liners made long haul travel easier than ever before and warships of incredible destructive power, exemplified by HMS Warrior, changed the face of naval warfare. In fact, the age of the modern warship was ushered in by the launch of HMS Warrior in 1860.


Statue of Brunel

Bronze statue of Isambard Kingdom Brunel at the Temple, London.

Tagishsimon 2004

Industrial city scene

During the Industrial Revolution more and more people moved to the cities to find work.  As a result they became cramped and polluted.

Gustav Doré c.1860

Using the links below you can travel back to the nineteenth century and investigate the world as it was in Brunel’s day.  Each link contains information and suggestions for an activity. The resources are in PDF format.
  • The Industrial Revolution - What was the Industrial Revolution and why was it so important? Find out some of the answers here but be prepared to do some historical sleuthing yourself!
  • Palmerston and Politics - If Brunel was the engineering powerhouse of his age then Palmerston was surely the political version. Investigate Palmerston’s life and see how he shaped the Victorian age.
  • Portsmouth 1860 - Portsmouth today is a vibrant, modern city on the South Coast of England. In 1860 things were a bit different. Find out how different they were and where you can see reminders of the past.
  • Napoleon III - Napoleon III tried to follow in his illustrious uncle’s footsteps and restore the French Empire.  Find out how his actions lead to the construction of the Warrior and why he ended up buried in Farnborough.
  • Social Change in the Mid-19th Century - It was all go in the mid-19th century.  The Industrial Revolution changed society in Great Britain forever.  Find out what those changes were and how they still affect us today.
  • Teachers’ Notes - Curriculum links and suggestions about how history, science and D&T teachers can use these resources in their lessons.