Top 10 Astonishing Facts about SS Great Britain

Photo by Gordon Spicer from Wikipedia

Top 10 Astonishing Facts about SS Great Britain

The SS Great Britain was a passenger steamship designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. She was the largest ship in the world from 1845 to 1854. It was launched on 19 July 1843 having taken four years to be built.

She belonged to the Great Western Steamship Company’s transatlantic service and operated between Bristol and New York City.

Her innovative design, combining the technologies of iron construction and steam-powered propeller, made her the prototype of virtually all modern ships.

When it was launched, it was dubbed ‘The greatest experiment since the creation’. She was the ship that revolutionized sea travel.

Here are the top ten astonishing facts about the SS Great Britain;

1. The SS Great Britain was the First Screw-propelled, Ocean going, Iron Hulled Steam Ship

Photo by Steve Daniels from Wikimedia

The SS Great Britain had the most powerful steam engine at the time where she achieved an average speed of 9.4 knots which is about 10.8 miles per hour.

Brunel’s initial plan was to build a wooden ship. He was convinced into adapting to iron-hulled technology which made him persuade the company’s directors to build an iron-hulled ship.

The ship’s builders recognized a lot of advantages of iron over the traditional wooden hull. One of them was that iron was cheaper than wood and that iron was not subject to dry rot.

The adaptation of screw propulsion made the SS Great Britain one of its kind as the use of paddlewheels had various disadvantages like the depth of the paddlewheel kept changing depending on the ship’s cargo and the wave’s movement.

Due to this, Brunel opted for screw-propelled engines which set the ship’s completion back by nine months.

2. The SS Great Britain was not a Slave Ship

Image Source: Wikimedia

The SS Great Britain was made to carry luxury passengers between Bristol and New York. She operated on the England-Australia route for almost 30 years making her the most reliable ship of her time.

She was created some 30 years after the slave trade was abolished therefore was not used in the slave trade.

3. The SS Great Britain was used as a Cargo Ship

The ship was sold to Gibbs, Bright, and Company who bought a new engine and increased the decks to be able to accommodate new passengers.

In 1882, the SS Great Britain became a cargo sailing ship. She used to carry exports between England and the west coast of America.

In 1886 whilst on a voyage to Panama, the ship was faced with severe storms leaving her badly damaged. Repairs were very costly leaving her owners to sell her to the Falkland Island Co.

The ship was used as a floating storage facility and later abandoned to rust in the Falkland Islands until 1970.

4. The SS Great Britain was involved in the Crimean War

photo by William Henry Fox Talbot from Wikipedia

During the Crimean War in 1855 and the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the SS Great Britain served as a troop ship for the British army. It was requisitioned to carry the troops under the name of HMS Steam Transport Great Britain.

The SS Great Britain had the capacity to carry 1650 soldiers and 30 horses. The ship was commanded by Captain John Gray during this time.

The horses often suffered from sea sickness and hence were given a barrel of vinegar to refresh them. Horses could not vomit and therefore they became ill and died

The suffering could be eased by sponging their nostrils with vinegar. It was however a long voyage and they were also provided with hammock-like slings to provide relief.

5. The SS Great Britain Carried Live Animals

Refrigerators were not yet around in the Victorian era so the ship carried live animals such as chickens, pigs, and cows.

These animals provided a constant fresh supply of meat, eggs, and milk for first-class passengers.

6. The SS Great Britain First Sailed From Liverpool to New York

The SS Great Britain commenced her journey on 26 July 1845 two years after her naming and float-out in Bristol.

Liverpool had been chosen as the home port for the Atlantic trade in 1842, after some years of experience with Great Western operating out of the confines of the port of Bristol.

The SS Great Britain arrived in New York in 14 days having encountered challenges during the Atlantic crossing a total distance of 3304 nautical miles and an average speed of 9.4 knots.

Her return to Liverpool was on 30 August, arriving home on 13 September.

7. The Ship Underwent Numerous Modifications

photo by andy Dolman from Wikipedia

Her first voyages carrying passengers between Liverpool and New York were fraught with technical problems affecting the propeller machinery. Commercial operations meant that these and other design issues had to be resolved quickly.

Brunel’s basic concept was soon modified, with the development of the engines, the rig, and propeller, to create a vessel that could really go the distance.

Even though many modifications were made, the SS Great Britain still managed to sail across five different continents.

8. The Ship was Unable to Fit Through the Dock Gates Because of  its Sheer Size

A problem presented itself during the design process as the ship got bigger and bigger. This caused the size of the dock gates to become a constraint.

This has had a lasting effect in that the shape of the SS Great Britain’s midsection seen today is quite unique and was arrived at as a shape that would permit the ship to exit Bristol’s docks without any damage.

The ship would have certainly followed the simple shape of the Great Western and would now be seen as very modern from the HMS Victory.

9. Recovery of the SS Great Britain

In November 1967, the late Ewan Corlett began his plans of bringing the SS Great Britain home. People thought he was insane as the ship was 8000 nautical miles away, virtually in the Antarctic and decaying away.

After his survey of the ship at Port Stanley in November 1968, he was able to conclude that the ship was capable of salvage.

Ewan arranged for the ship to be towed to the UK. Eventually, in April 1970, The SS Great Britain was brought home across the Atlantic as people came to witness its entry into Bristol. On its re-entry into Bristol, the ship was truly afloat.

The rescue was made possible through several large donations including ones from Sir Jack Hayward and the late Sir Paul Getty.

10. The SS Great Britain is now a Museum Ship

Photo by Howard Dickins from Wikimedia

The SS Great Britain is now one of Bristol’s most popular tourist attractions. The museum shows the ship’s history from her conception to the modern-day featuring some helpful historical contexts for steamships.

The ship now is surrounded by an air seal in its hull to prevent it from further corroding in the hull. The ship receives many visitors from around the world who come to learn its history.