Brunel's ss Great Britain

Wells and Lambe Despatch Case thought to have been owned by I.K Brunel

The ss Great Britain Trust is an Accredited Museum and is the guardian of one of the most significant maritime collections in the UK.

At the core of the collection is the ss Great Britain herself, one of the most iconic and significant historic ships in the world.

The Trust collects documents and conserves material dating from every stage of the ship’s working life, and from the history of the steamship and all those affected by them.

This includes an extensive archive of letters, reports, photographs, technical drawings, diaries and other papers from Brunel, passengers and crew members, paintings by nineteenth and twentieth-century artists, ship models, ceramics and archaeological finds.  It also includes items associated with her structure, propulsion, navigation, passenger accommodation and pastimes.

There is a second category of material that does not come directly from the ship herself, but is linked in various ways, for example paintings recording her departure from Bristol.


The shell is an 'Engraved 19th century nautilus shell by C.H. Wood

Recent acquisitions include one of the final auction listings from Brunel’s final ship, the ss Great Eastern, a contemporary decorated nautilus shell by C. H. Wood celebrating the launch of the ss Great Britain and a Wells & Lambe despatch case which belonged to Brunel.

Close up of the engraved lettering on the Wells and Lambe Despatch Case, thought to have been owned by I.K Brunel

The Trust also holds digital and paper copies of documents held in Australian institutions and by private individuals.  Recently the Trust has received major bequests from maritime collectors.

The most important of these is the David MacGregor Library and Collection.  It includes several thousand books, journals, ship plans and a wonderful collection of illustrative materials, as well as providing an overview of maritime developments (both steam and sail) in the 19th century.