SS Great Britain - Recovery and Restoration

Recovery and Restoration

The salvage operation, made possible by several large donations, including one from Sir Jack Hayward, and the late Sir Paul Getty, was organised by 'the SS Great Britain Project', a group chaired by Richard Goold-Adams. Ewan Corlett conducted a naval architect's survey on the ship, reporting that in his opinion the ship could be refloated. A submersible pontoon, Mulus III, was chartered in February 1970. A German tug, Varius II, was chartered, reaching Port Stanley on 25 March. By 13 April, after some concern about a crack in the hull, the ship was mounted successfully on the pontoon and the following day the tug, pontoon and the SS Great Britain sailed to Port Stanley harbour for preparations for the transatlantic voyage. The voyage (code name "Voyage 47") began on 24 April, stopped in Montevideo from 2 May to 6 May for inspection, then across the Atlantic, arriving at Barry Docks, west of Cardiff on 22 June. ("Voyage 47" was chosen as the code name because it was on her 47th voyage from Penarth, in 1886, during a tempest that SS Great Britain had sought for shelter in The Falklands.) Bristol-based tugs then took over and towed the ship, still on her pontoon, to Avonmouth Docks.

The ship was then taken off the pontoon, in preparation for her re-entry into Bristol, now truly afloat. On Saturday 5 July, amidst considerable media interest, the ship was towed up the River Avon to Bristol. Perhaps the most memorable moment for the crowds that lined the final few miles was her passage under the Clifton Suspension Bridge, another Brunel design. She then waited a further two weeks in the Cumberland Basin, until a high enough tide occurred that would get her back through the locks to Bristol's Floating Harbour, back to her birthplace, the dry dock in the Great Western Dockyard in which she had been built (now a grade II* listed building, it had been disused since bomb damage during the Second World War).

The original intent was to restore her to her 1843 state. However, the philosophy of the project changed in recent years and the conservation of all surviving pre-1970 material became the aim.

In the meantime, the historic ship was featured in several television specials, such as the award-winning Arts and Entertainment two part mini-series program Floating Palaces in 1997. The special documented the history of the ocean liner age from 1819 to the present time and the historic significance of Brunel and his three ships, as well as including expert commentary and a walking tour of the Great Britain in Bristol while showcasing her restored interiors. The 2001 production of the PBS documentary and drama Victoria's Empire was the most noted one, in which the ship is featured as an accomplishment of Brunel's skills at the time and is also used as a period set for scenes showing Prince Albert boarding her for his inspection tour, actors playing Victorian Era passengers and crew, and with cargo scene set up in the foreground.

By 1998, an extensive survey discovered that the hull was continuing to corrode in the humid atmosphere of the dock and estimates gave her 20 years before she corroded away. Extensive conservation work began which culminated in the installation of a glass plate across the dry dock at the level of her water line, with two dehumidifiers, keeping the space beneath at 22% relative humidity, sufficiently dry to preserve the surviving material of the hull. This was completed, the ship was "re-launched" in July 2005, and visitor access to the dry dock was restored.

A The West Country Tonight series broadcast on ITV1 in July 2010 told five aspects of the SS Great Britain's story: her history, her restoration and Bristolian's memories of her return to the city - showing their home footage of the event. And correspondent Robert Murphy travelled to Grand Bahama for an exclusive interview with Sir Jack Hayward then moved to The Falkland Islands where he spoke with islanders who worked in the salvage team.

A BBC West documentary called When Brunel's Ship Came Home tells the story of the salvage operation and was broadcast on BBC One in the West of England on July 12, 2010. The programme includes the personal memories of many of the people who were involved.