Sponsor a book
Sponsor a Book
The ss Great Britain Trust and the Brunel Institute are home to a collection that has been described as one of the most important research collections for maritime history and the study of Brunel in the UK.
Due to their age, regular use and previously inadequate storage conditions, many of the objects in the Trust’s collection require conservation treatment and specialised care.
You can support the work of the curatorial team and help secure the whole of the Trust’s collection by Sponsoring a Book from just £25 per annum.
The ss Great Britain Trust is delighted to thank Bishop Fleming for its generous support as a lead sponsor.
The Brunel drawings |
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This set of four drawings, dated between 1812-1833, was a part of the personal papers of Benjamin and Sophia Hawes (I.K. Brunel’s sister and her husband) acquired by the Brunel Institute in 2010 with the help of a grant from the PRISM Fund. All four drawings are delightful and provide a rare glimpse into Brunel’s creativity, humour, and artistic skill. |
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Lloyd's Register |
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First published in the 18th Century, Lloyd’s Registers of Shipping are a remarkable source of historical information on commercial shipping and merchant vessels. The second volume of the1905-06 Register is the appendix for this year’s Register. This volume provides a list of ship owners and managers including Charles Hill & Sons which was still running the Great Western Dockyard when the ss Great Britain returned to Bristol in 1970. |
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HMS Victory ship plan |
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The HMS Victory was Lord Nelson’s flagship and is most known for her role at the battle of Trafalgar. This plan of the HMS Victory was created by David MacGregor and is among the highlights of the Brunel Institute’s collection. |
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Minerva log |
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Minerva was an East Indiaman, built by the Perry family of shipbuilders in the Blackwall Yard and launched in 1786. The ship’s log from 1787 to 1789 is part of the collection once belonging to David MacGregor and is a fascinating and detailed description of the voyages from England to Madras, Bengal and China. Small sketches of men and women appear throughout, along with a list of seamen and passengers on board. |
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The Yachtsman, Vol. X |
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Published in London, The Yachtsman features articles, commentary, and reports on all aspects of yachting in the UK and the world. Vol. X covers the issues published between 29 August 1895 to 26 December 1895 and includes a fascinating, ongoing debate about the “Valkyrie III”, Lord Dunraven’s yacht which competed in the ninth America’s Cup race and was defeated by American-owned “Defender” in all three Cup races. After his defeat, Lord Dunraven claimed that the Americans had cheated sparking off a heated controversy that threatened to end the America’s Cup race. |
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The Allan Gilmour diary |
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Allan Gilmour was a steerage passenger on the ss Great Britain on a voyage to Australia in 1852. The diary he kept during his three-month voyage is now one of the jewels of the Trust’s collection. It illuminates the diversity of the stories and experiences of the ss Great Britain’s passengers in their search of a new life in Australia. |
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