Brunel's ss Great Britain

Built by William Mowll, the model is an exciting addition to the ss Great Britain Trust’s collection. Following conservation work, the model will take centre stage in the David MacGregor Library housed in the Brunel Institute, which is due to open to the public in 2010.

The historically and nationally significant model was bought with the support of the MLA’s PRISM fund, set up for the preservation of industrial and scientific material in museums. PRISM met half the £9,200 purchase and transportation costs, with the balance met by supporters and friends of the Trust.

A labour of love, the model took five years to build (between 1976 and 1981), to a scale of 1:48. It shows the ss Great Britain on a voyage to New York in 1846, her first year in service a journey completed in 14 days.

The wooden model complete with a replica four-blade brass propeller also includes fittings such as anchors, capstans, pumps and companionways. This famous ship model, which is two metres in length, was built from scratch using plans of the ss Great Britain and is designed to float.

The ss Great Britain Trust’s Director of Museum and Educational Services, Rhian Tritton, said: “The arrival of this latest addition to the Trust’s collection is incredibly important because of the model’s national and scholarly significance. The fact that the model has been so well-recorded by Mr Mowll in his book makes it doubly valuable.

“This was a mammoth undertaking for one man, and a real labour of love. We are very much looking forward to giving the model pride of place within the Brunel Institute.”

Ms Tritton added: “We are delighted that this model was made available for sale, and very grateful for the support we have received from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council through the PRISM Fund.”

William Mowll who recorded the model-building process in his book ‘ss Great Britain: the model ship’, has included signed copies of his book alongside the model – making it a unique representation of the model-maker’s craft.

William Mowll worked closely with the team who salvaged the ss Great Britain and brought her home to Bristol in 1970 and with those involved in the ship’s early conservation work. While this increases the model’s appeal to modelers, mariners, historians and engineers, it is also a visually appealing object in its own right and is therefore sure to fascinate a general audience.

Before going on public display, the Trust’s curatorial team will place the Mowll model in the Trust’s store, for conservation and cleaning work.

Eventually the model will be housed in the Brunel Institute alongside other maritime artefacts including a letter to Captain Hosken from Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and the logbook from the ship Minerva, which sailed to India in the 1780s. 

The Brunel Institute – conservation and learning centre, will feature a national Brunel archive and library, a major educational and research resource for those interested in Brunel, the technology and conservation of steam ships, and history of 19th century sea travel, as well as educational programmes such as ‘Future Brunels’.