'… remarkable story...'

Scotland Magazine

Pen & Sword have republished what in my opinion is the best biography of Telford: eminently readable, as comprehensive as a single volume can realistically be, and balanced in its assessment of its subject.
More illustrations have been added.

Railway & Canal Historical Society

As featured in

Dumfries & Galloway Life

As featured in

Scottish Field

As seen in Buses magazine, this book focuses on the story fascinating story of the master builder himself, Thomas Telford. This is a must read for all with an interest in building and public road and canal uses in days gone by.

Buses magazine

'... inspiring book...'

Dumfries & Galloway Standard

Britain has its fair share of brilliant scientists and engineers, Bell, Stephenson, Wren, Watt, Brunel and the man at the core of this book by Anthony Burton. A quick trawl through the listings on Amazon reveals a number of books about Telford, some with a different slant to a more purposeful biography, and only two which attempt to examine the man in any depth, one from the nineteenth century and another from the 1950’s so the time is most definitely right for a modern reappraisal.

After paying due deference to previous works the author takes us on a fascinating journey through Telford’s life. From his childhood in Scotland, to his early beginnings as a surveyor and on to the heights of a career that saw him building the first suspension bridges, in particular the Menai Bridge from the Welsh mainland to Anglesey, canals, including the great Caledonian canal and 100 of miles of roads which lead to his friend, the poet, Robert Southey comparing him with one of the ancient wonders of the world, pun intended, ‘the Colossus of Roads’.

The book recounts many fascinating events, some of the civil engineering projects are very well known, others not so much but all recounted with a crisp, fluid and passionate writing style, which for a biography of an engineer is quite a feat to pull off but Burton does it with aplomb. There are also interesting details concerning his dealings with his contemporaries. For instance:

The meeting of Telford at the age of 73 with a young engineer by the name of Isambard Kingdom Brunel aged 24. A benefactor had left money in his will in order for a bridge to be built over the Avon gorge and a competition was set up to decide who would build it. Telford became the Chairman of the committee charged with making the decision, but, as you would expect he had ideas of his own design. He liked Brunel’s designs but rejected them repeatedly in favour of his own. After a public outcry Telford had to back down and Brunel built the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol and began his road to fame.

I bought this book in order to learn more about Thomas Telford and I’m always keen to know that the book includes all the latest research and is as up to date as possible. Without doubt, this book ticks all the boxes and I have no reservations that it will become the standard work of reference and the first port of call for anyone wishing to know about the life and career of one of Britain’s greatest engineers.

Chris Heath, author of Denby & District