When launched by Prince Albert in 1843 she was the biggest ship in the world, At the time she was the world's first ocean liner and completed her first trip to New York in 1845 in 14 days and 21 hours.
Brunel had designed the ship to be run chiefly by steam but but she could also use her sails.Between 1852 and 1875 she undertook the role of Emigrant Steam Clipper taking families to a new life in Australia. !856 saw SS Great Britain carry troops to fight in the Crimea; in 1861 she carried the first England cricket team to Australia.
In 1882 her role changed again as she was converted to carry cargo, her engine and funnel were removed. With three tall masts and broad square sails she became a 'windjammer' carrying coal to San Fransico.
Badly damaged by storms rounding Cape Horn in 1886 she took shelter in the Falkland Islands where she was used as a floating warehouse for coal and wood. Her working life ended in 1933. In 1937 holes were made in her hull and she was scuttled in a remote windswept bay.
If you visit the restored ship in its Bristol dry dock you can see the 'broken' state of the great ship below the 'waterline.'
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| SS Great Britain Scuttling Holes |
SS Great Britian - c1968 'broken' but rescued
The ship came back to England in 1970 on a pontoon and now takes centre stage on Bristol's Historic Quay.
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| SS Great Britain - Bristol 2011 |
A long way from that Falkland's windswept cove.
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For more broken artifacts don't forget to look in on Carmi's thematic-photographic-205
8 comments:
Hooray for the SS Great Britian! It's the ending stories of these wonderful brokens that make all the difference...perhaps Carmi should follow up with fixed as his next TP. I think he as the rest of us have been sensing a lot of broken with what's been in the news lately. The horrible shooting in Aurora, Co. is so tragic. But you out did the theme this week with your interesting topic and photos. Well done! (FYI my TP spooky house has friendly spirits, so far!) :)
You’ve honoured The SS Great Britain with this post Bob. Funnily enough another blog I follow has highlighted it this week too. BTW The last picture isn’t a caption competition is it?:)
That ship has witnessed quite a lot. I'm glad they rescued her; it's amazing to see the difference between 1968 and 2010.
I am so glad she was salvaged. It always seems so sad to scuttle ships we have finished with.
Rob's comment made me realise that I had the wrong date on my photo of the ship at Bristol - it's 2011 not 2010.
Thought of you and the SS Great Britain when I saw Brunel featured in the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics.
I found this a very interesting post. Being married to a retired navy man the interest in ships never wanes.
It is through post like yours that I get to see the world that my Old Salt has already seen. Thanks for taking me along on your cruise and for visiting my broken arms this week.
I like that sign!
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