William Low
Made the first attempt to construct a tunnel under the English Channel.
- Born:
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1814
- Died:
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1886
- Place of Birth:
- Scotland
- Biography:
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William Low was born in Scotland and became a surveyor and civil engineer, working at one time with the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
In the 1840s he worked on the Shrewsbury to Chester railway which brought him to the Wrexham area. He became the joint owner of Vron Colliery in 1850 and bought a house near Coedpoeth. In 1864 he designed and built a house called 'Roseneath' on Rhosddu Road in Wrexham, near the entrance to the site of the present Yale College. It was in this house that he formed the Channel Tunnel Company and drew up the first realistic plans for a tunnel under the channel. The idea of a tunnel linking Britain and France was not new - the first ever design had been produced in 1802 by a French engineer. However, Low's was the first practical attempt to make this dream a reality. He bought land near Dover and Calais in order to achieve his dream. He had to fund his attempt himself as he was unable to funding from the British Government. The first tunnel chamber was excavated at Shakespeare Cliff near Dover in 1870. Low's progress was halted by the Franco-Prussian war. In 1881 Low recommenced his work and succeeded in completing over 1000 yards of the tunnel at Dover. But work was once again halted when fears were raised that the French could use the tunnel to invade Britain. By now Low was 70 years old and had run out of funds to continue the project. He moved to London where he died in 1886 aged 72.  Though 'Roseneath' has been demolished reminders of Low's time in Wrexham remain in the form of the Westminster Buildings in Wrexham and the Argyle archway leading from Regent Street to Argyle Street. They were designed and built by Low in 1875 and a mural and plaque on Argyle Street commemorate his achievements.
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