A special exhibition is starting this week, to pay tribute to one of Britain’s greatest engineers, John Rennie – most well known for his work on London’s magnificent Waterloo and Southwark bridges.
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of the 6ft 4in tall, Scottish born engineer. An exhibition at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) from 29 July, will celebrate his life, displaying items such as an original stone from Waterloo Bridge, paintings, plans of work and original note books.
Rennie, apprenticed as a millwright and the first professional engineer to receive a university education, came to England and initially made his mark as the installer of millwork at Albion Mills beside Blackfriars - the first great steam-powered mill in London.
He then began to receive civil engineering commissions. From 1789 he was surveying canals and construction followed on canals such as Stroudwater (1792-93), Lancaster (1792-03), Crinan (1794-09) and Kennet and Avon (1794-10).
Author Samuel Smiles commended his work on the Lune aqueduct on the Lancaster: “It exhibits in fine combination, the important qualities of strength, durability, and elegance in design.” He said.
Those qualities were what characterised Rennie’s approach and were reflected in the great bridge and dock designs of the early nineteenth century. Generally, it was Waterloo and Southwark bridges in London that aroused greatest admiration. Waterloo “the finest bridge in Europe” was once described by engineering great Robert Stephenson as “Unrivalled as regards its colossal proportions, its architectural effect, and the general simplicity and massive character of its details.”
His great dock schemes – London docks (1801-05), East India docks, Howth and Dun Laoghaire harbours, Plymouth breakwater and Sheerness dockyard, were valued at millions of pounds, and also remain impressive to this day.
Mike Chrimes MBE, ICE Engineering Policy & Innovation Director, said: “John Rennie was one of the leading civil engineers of the early nineteenth century, following John Smeaton and William Jessop and a contemporary of Thomas Telford. He is not as well known today as he ought to be, and it is hoped that this exhibition will contribute to a greater awareness of his outstanding achievements.”
The Rennie @250 exhibition will be held at ICE headquarters: 1 Great George Street, Westminster, London SW1P 3AA until 31 August 2011. It is free to attend.
John Rennie was born on 7 June 1761.
John Rennie was born on 7 June 1761.
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) is a leading source of professional expertise in transport, water supply and treatment, flood management, waste and energy. Established in 1818, it has over 80,000 members throughout the world including over 60,000 in the UK. ICE’s vision is to place civil engineering the heart of society, delivering sustainable development through knowledge, skills and professional expertise. The ICE has long worked with the government of the day to help it to achieve its objectives, and has worked with industry to ensure that construction and civil engineering remain major contributors to the UK economy and UK exports.