Brunel 200

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, revolutionary designs such as the magnificent ss Great Britain and 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 Bristol – 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.

Sluice gate, Underfall Yard, Floating Harbour

A fascinating reminder of our industrial heritage, Underfall Yard was not built by Brunel or even designed by him, but he did have a hand in a rather nifty piece of engineering that's the key to making the whole yard work.  The sluice gate in the centre of the yard works to stop the area silting up.

The Royal Western Hotel (Brunel House) St George's Road

Now used as council offices, only the façade of this once prestigious hotel remains.  It was built for passengers who were travelling to New York on the ss Great Western. A vital part of Brunel's vision of a continuous route from London to the States, he also had a hand in its design.

The Apple Stone, Woodland Road

A curious Brunel relic, the Apple Stone is a huge bolder that was taken from the St Anne's Tunnel in Brislington and preserved by Brunel in memory of a worker who died during its construction.

Bristol Docks

There are plenty of Brunel features around the docks.  Brunel himself had a hand in their construction and there are capstans and swing bridges in the Cumberland Basin that can still be seen today. The Great Western Dockyard is commemorated with a plaque above the entrance to the industrial museum on Spike Island.

Brunel's Engine Factory, Great Western Shipyard

Beside the ss Great Britain is what is left of Brunel's giant engine factory.  The wall to the left of the ship as you walk into the site was originally part of a building that was 100 feet high.  The engine factory was bombed during the last war.

Temple Meads Railway Terminus

Brunel's original station is not the gothic structure we use today, but the building that now houses the Commonwealth Museum.  Inside you can still see his meeting room and if you park your car under cover, then you can look up and see some of Brunel's original roof beams.