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Telford’s Legacies

Telford designed many substantial and innovative engineering structures that we can still see today, but perhaps his greatest legacies were the engineering methods he used and improved upon.  These include his structural use of cast iron, his suspension bridges and his methods of road and bridge construction. In 1818, Telford and a small number of other prominent young engineers set up the world’s first ever professional engineering organisation.  This became known as the Institution of Civil Engineers and in 1820 Telford became its first president.  Telford didn’t think himself fit for the position but accepted it with honour and was re-elected until his death on September 2nd 1834.  He left his books, papers and drawings as well thousands of pounds to the Institute.  Other monies were willed to both Westerkirk and Langholm to support its libraries.  Westerkirk used the money to buy books and many of those from Telford’s legacy survive today. Following his death, Telford was awarded the honour of a burial in Westminster Abbey the first civil engineer to be bestowed this honour.

We are very grateful to Chris Morris for the use of his evocative images of Telford’s works still standing today, these are reproduced in his book “On Tour with Thomas Telford”.

The Telford memorial at Westerkirk Parish Library, this reads “Erected in 1928 to perpetuate the memory of Thomas Telford,son of the unblameable shepherd, and to record his fameas an engineer and his enduring benevolence. His creative genius gave to the nation many works of inestimable benefit.” Photograph courtesy of the Trustees of Westerkirk Parish Library.

The Telford Memorial in the nave of Westminster Abbey in 2005. Photograph courtesy of Chris Morris.