The Brunel Institute will be housed within a four-storey, 16 metre high recreation of Brunel’s great Steamship Engine Works built on the dockyard in 1839.
The ground floor will house a new Conservation, Learning Centre and visitor facilities, to be known as the Brunel Institute.
The upper floors will be residential accommodation, including some social housing, and car parking. The site will be known as “The Great Western Dockyard”.
Artist’s impression of the proposed development from Hotwell Road.
Picture: Richard Carmen
What will the Brunel Institute deliver?
The Brunel Institute has four main elements:
- An Archive store of historical engineering and maritime history records and archives.
- The David MacGregor Library of printed books and other works on maritime history, engineering and archaeology.
- The Education and Outreach unit providing specific education programmes for schools and young people in Bristol and the South West.
- A postgraduate and adult learner centre leading research and teaching on maritime history, heritage and archaeology, in a partnership with the University of Bristol.
The Brunel Institute will form the south boundary to the Great Western Dockyard, recapturing the historic character of the dockyard around the ship.
Visitors will arrive at the new ticket office and shop, from where they can enter the dockyard.
Artist’s impression of the proposed development, viewed from the port side of the ship. Picture: Richard Carmen
The surviving walls of Brunel’s Engine Building Factory (which was destroyed during bombing in the Second World War) will be preserved and incorporated into the library, reception and teaching spaces.
View of the original Steamship Engine Works, to the top left of the picture
Why is the Brunel Institute important?
The content of the Brunel Institute will be remarkable: its focus will be Brunel, maritime history and archaeology, engineering and the social and technical context of the ss Great Britain.
The collection includes historic objects, 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 new screw propeller for the ship.
Who will it be for?
Anyone will be able to visit the Brunel Institute – for free - during normal opening hours, following a simple security check.
It will be a magnet for scholars, researchers and specialist study, but the Trust aims to encourage anyone with an interest in history, Brunel, science, engineering, maritime study or a simple curiosity to find out what is in the library and archive and take part in the adult learning programme of workshops and lectures.
The education programmes will be aimed at children and young people from 3 to 16 years of age. It will encourage their interest in how the world works, through storytelling, workshops, practical ‘Brunel Challenges’, study days, lectures and outreach work in schools, taking inspiration from Brunel and his achievements and inspire continuing study or careers in related fields.
When the building opens, the Trust will contribute to the annual Bristol Doors Open Day and offer guided tours of the library and archive, as well as a public lecture programme and the education events and activities.
For further information, contact the Director of Museum and Educational Services or the Brunel Institute Project Manager on 0117 926 0680 or alternatively, contact us online.
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