The ss Great Britain. Picture by Mandy Reynolds

This is one of the most exciting developments in the ss Great Britain’s recent history. In July 2005 the ss Great Britain Trust completed Phase 1 – a £11.3m ship conservation programme – to re-launch as an exciting new museum and visitor attraction.

Subsequently the Trust has witnessed record visitor numbers and received numerous awards including Enjoy England’s ‘Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 2007’ and the Gulbenkian Prize ‘Museum of the Year 2006’. Soon the Trust will learn whether it has won the prestigious ‘ICON Conservation Award 2007’, supported by Sir Paul McCartney, or the RIBA Crown Estate Conservation Award.

Phase 2 development of the Great Western Dockyard, formerly occupied by semi-derelict warehousing, will deliver a permanent endowment for the ship, as well as a new visitor welcome area and shop and most importantly the Brunel Institute, Conservation and Learning Centre. The scheme also includes the building of 145 one and two bedroom apartments.

The redeveloped site will recreate the character of the original Victorian dockyard which was destroyed by bombing in World War II, thus providing a sympathetic backdrop to the ss Great Britain. The Great Western Dockyard was the first place in the world where the processes associated with modern iron shipbuilding came together on one site. Remnants of the original walls have been safeguarded and will become part of the new building.

Bristol Architect Stride Treglown and the Alec French Partnership have worked closely with the ss Great Britain Trust, Bristol City Council, and key stakeholders on the external design. The Trust is working with the Alec French Partnership on the interior of the Brunel Institute, Paul Chappell is the appointed quantity surveyor and the Trust is exploring best practice in terms of environmental sustainability.

Brunel’s ss Great Britain, on Bristol’s historic harbour, will remain open for visitors throughout the new development’s build.

The Brunel Institute will provide public access to the Trust’s extensive library and archive, including 30,000 shipping photographs, 5,500 library volumes, and 500 key papers, diaries, logs and personal letters relating to the passengers and crew of the ss Great Britain, including Brunel’s handwritten report proposing the screw propeller. An independent expert’s evaluation described the archive as: “the most important research collection assembled by a registered maritime museum…the wealth of its content is staggering…I do not know of a better collection outside the National Maritime Museum”. The archive will also include materials relating to Brunel and England’s maritime past on loan from other prominent organisations.

An Education and Outreach Unit will provide workshops and pioneering education programmes to children aged three to 16 years encouraging the study of science, engineering and history.

To fund the fitting out of the Brunel Institute, and delivery of the education programme, the Trust has submitted a grant application to the Heritage Lottery Fund, and will launch a major fundraising appeal in 2008.

At the time of writing the demolition contractors, the Wring Group, are taking down the last of the semi-derelict sheds and clearing land ready for construction. Specialist equipment will reduce the risk of vibration affecting the historic ship and its dramatic glass ‘sea’, which doubles as the roof of the Victorian ship’s state-ofthe- art dehumidification chamber. Over the next three months archaeologists will work closely with the ss Great Britain Trust and Bristol City Council Archaeologists to unearth and record historic features and artefacts they may find on site.

The Trust’s curatorial team hopes the extensive archaeological dig will reveal artefacts and clues to the Victorian workforce – local people and specialist iron-workers from Shropshire – on-site between the ship’s construction from 1838 and her launch in 1843, especially in the area behind the ship’s stern, which was originally the steam engine factory. Archaeologists may even find artefacts relating to the celebratory lunch held in the Prince Consort’s honour on the day of the ship’s launch on July 19, 1843. Artefacts already owned by the Trust include original newspapers and posters, advertising the launch and opportunity to view Prince Albert ‘alive’ for 5 shillings. The public will be able to visit the site to see the archaeological work in progress and view any early finds.

This development marks a world-first in maritime heritage. It represents a significant and imaginative solution from the ss Great Britain Trust, a charity determined to achieve success in delivering its charitable goals and financial sustainability, through working in partnership with developer Linden Homes.

In the long term the Trust will benefit from not only a stunning visual backdrop for Brunel’s iconic ship, and enhanced visitor welcome area and shop, but a fabulous new research and learning centre – due to be opened within the next three years. Short term we are looking forward to seeing the archaeologists in action and hopefully, adding to our archives to be housed in the Brunel Institute.

For more information about the ss Great britain trust visit www.ssgreatbritain.org

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