Copperhouse Foundry Receives Chain Contract
The Clifton bridge undertaking contracts with Copperhouse Foundry in Hayle to produce suspension chains, although the project's financial difficulties later prevent their intended installation.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1840 in Great Britain — Page 2
Explore 82 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1840.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1840
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 82 unique records.
82Unique records
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39Named events on this page
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24Places on this page
Other events (month unknown)
Dorchester Street Rail Bridge Opens
A railway bridge near Dorchester Street carried the Great Western route through Bath's built up centre.
Dorchester Street Railway Bridge
The structure carries Brunel's Great Western route through central Bath.
Factory Labour Inquiry Supports Reform
Anthony Ashley Cooper continued pressing for stronger protective legislation amid public concern about child labour and industrial conditions.
Free Trade Lectures Reach Wider Audiences
League advocates used public speeches and educational meetings to explain the economic case against restrictions on imported wheat.
Gatehampton Viaduct
Completes the original Gatehampton Viaduct across the River Thames.
Governor
Appointed Governor of South Australia
Great Britain Screw Conversion Approved
The steamship directors accept Brunel's recommendation and approve converting the vessel to screw propulsion.
Great Western Faces Cunard Competition
The arrival of Cunard steamers created a powerful new competitor for Great Western's North Atlantic passenger service.
Great Western Lengthening Programme Completed
The ship's refit produced a longer vessel better suited to carrying additional passengers on Atlantic passages.
Great Western Ocean Passenger Accommodation Improved
The vessel offered passengers the amenities of a purpose built long distance steamship rather than a converted coastal craft.
Highnams Farm Bridge
Designs a Great Western Railway bridge near Saltford.
Hungerford Bridge Chain Manufacture Commences
Chain manufacture at the Copperhouse Foundry supported the large suspension bridge projects undertaken by Brunel.
Hungerford Suspension Chain Design Prepared
Brunel adopted wrought iron suspension chains to support the bridge deck across the Thames.
Industrial Change Tests Liberal Reform
Industrial growth and urban problems were important conditions for the continuing social and economic debates in the Review's era.
Kemble Railway Bridge
Designs an accommodation bridge south of Kemble for the railway.
Keynsham Railway Crossing
The bridge forms part of Brunel's Bristol-to-Bath railway section.
Leigh Woods Abutment Construction Advances
The Leigh Woods masonry abutment reaches an advanced state by 1840, forming a substantial foundation for the suspension structure planned across the gorge.
Moulsford Thames Crossing
The viaduct forms part of the pioneering Great Western main line.
Moulsford Viaduct
Completes the original Moulsford Viaduct across the Thames.
Nelson Column Construction
Construction begins on Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square.
Nelson's Column
Designs Nelson's Column for Trafalgar Square.
Observatory Management And Observing Procedures Standardised
Airy strengthened systematic routines for observing recording and reducing astronomical results. The measurements helped reduce uncertainties in celestial reference positions.
Paddington Through Rail Network Extends
Newly opened Great Western sections expanded the range of destinations accessible from Paddington.
Plot
Edward Oxford fires a shot at Victoria
River Chew Bridge
Designs the Great Western Railway crossing over the River Chew.
River Chew Railway Crossing Opens
The Great Western route crossed the River Chew at Keynsham on its passage between Bath and Bristol.
Ross Expedition
Commands HMS Terror as second-in-command of Ross's Antarctic expedition
Saltford GWR Bridge
The masonry structure belongs to the pioneering Bristol-Bath section.
Saltford Railway Bridge Enters Use
Railway structures near Saltford carried Brunel's broad gauge line through the Avon valley.
Sawmill Extensions Support Naval Timber Work
Expanded workshop areas integrated additional sawing and associated maintenance equipment. The design reduced manual operations between manufacturing stages.
Siege of Canton
An expeditionary force of British Indian army troops aboard 15 barracks ships, four steam-powered gunboats and 25 smaller boats reached Canton from Singapore. The marines were headed by James Bremer. Bremer demanded the Qing Government compensate the British for losses suffered from interrupted trade
Siege of Guangzhou
Palmerston sends 16 British warships to Guangzhou
Siege of Guangzhou
Palmerston sends 16 British warships to Guangzhou
Sordello
Publication of "Sordello"
St James Railway Bridge
Completes the skew railway bridge over the Avon at Bath.
Thames Railway Crossing
The elegant masonry crossing carries Brunel's broad-gauge railway.
Twerton Railway Works
The structure incorporates arches, railway facilities and workers' accommodation.
Twerton Viaduct Completed
Completes the long Twerton Viaduct for the Great Western Railway.
Twerton Viaduct Enters Railway Service
The long masonry viaduct at Twerton provided a continuous rail alignment on the western approach to Bath.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.