Civil Engineering
As an eminent engineer Donkin was often consulted on civil engineering matters. He supported Thomas Telford's 1814 proposals for a massive suspension bridge at Runcorn and in 1821 reported along with Henry Maudslay on an iron bridge erected by Ralph Dodd at Springfield, Chelmsford. Thomas Telford employed Donkin in his survey of rivers in the London area for the Water Supply report completed shortly before his death.
In the 1820s Donkin became involved with the Thames Tunnel project, having become acquainted with Marc Brunel when he had supplied equipment for his machinery at Chatham Dockyard. In 1825-27 Donkin supplied pumps for removing water from the tunnel and also workmen for modifying the tunneling shield; at one time it was even suggested that he replace Brunel as engineer.
In 1826 he constructed a model of a landing stage proposed by Brunel for use at Liverpool.
Donkin's works regularly supplied machinery for use in civil engineering projects, including dredging machines for the Prussian Government in 1817 and for the Calder and Hebble Navigation in 1824. Much was also supplied for the Caledonian Canal including stationary engines for use in construction of the locks.
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