Michael Lane

Michael Lane was born on 26th October 1802 in Shadwell, London and trained in bricklaying, working in the London area. In 1825 he joined the staff of Marc Brunel (Isambard’s father) on the construction of the Thames Tunnel as a foreman bricklayer. He nearly died alongside Isambard Kingdom Brunel (appointed Resident Engineer at the age of 21) when the tunnel flooded in May 1827 while still under construction. Michael Lane rose to become one of Isambard’s most trusted assistants ‘due to the qualities of leadership and craftsmanship displayed in his work’(I.K.Brunel).

Between 1830 and 1832 he was commissioned to build one of Britain’s first road tunnels at Beaminster in Dorset (still standing). From there, he worked as Resident Engineer for Brunel in Bristol Docks to 1834 and Monkwearmouth Docks in Sunderland to 1838. He was transferred to work on construction of the Great Western Railway main line at Bath ‘in expectation that he will prosecute it with vigour, devoting himself entirely to it’(I.K.Brunel). The Monkwearmouth directors wanted him back for a year in 1839/40 and Brunel reluctantly acquiesced. He became assistant to the Resident Engineer in the GWRGreat Western Railway’s Western Division from 1841 and then Resident Engineer on Hull Docks until August 1845.

He re-joined the GWRGreat Western Railway as Superintendent of the Permanent Way Division succeeding Mr Bertram as Chief Civil Engineer of the GWRGreat Western Railway at the close of 1860 (Brunel had died in 1859). He was seen to be a practical engineer, a man of honesty and integrity, much liked. It was down to him to review Edward Wilson’s design for the Kidderminster Loop Line in 1867 and he made modest level and gradient changes which increased the length of the tunnel. He was suffering from Bright’s disease and this was to be one of his last acts before he died on 27th February 1868 when still in post. He is also buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.