From Iconic Decking to Unique Homeware

Fans of the SS Great Britain can now get their hands on a piece of history with the launch of a new homeware collection made from the ship’s wooden weather deck.

The SS Great Britain’s Red Jarrah wood weather deck is currently being replaced with 6,050 metres of new Accoya wood planks, which will last for the next fifty years.

Wiltshire-based artisan designers Ginger & Tweed will transform the removed wood into a beautiful range of homeware items and souvenirs, including stools, cribbage boards and storage boxes – part of a new range now available on the SS Great Britain Shop website. The project reflects the SS Great Britain Trust’s commitment to sustainability and ensures that an essential piece of Bristol’s history will live on in a new form.

When designing the range, Ginger & Tweed took inspiration from objects they observed on the ship. In addition to larger items, the duo have created smaller keepsakes, such as key rings and doorstops engraved with quotes from Brunel.

The items are crafted at Ginger & Tweed’s cottage home studio based in Box – which is quite fittingly the home to Brunel’s famous Box Tunnel. Speaking on the announcement, Ginger & Tweed said: “It’s a real privilege to be given the chance to work with a piece of history. We are thrilled to be repurposing the wood so it can be enjoyed for years to come in the form of functional homeware.”

Eleanor Ward from the SS Great Britain Trust said: “We’re so excited to launch this stunning range of products. By upcycling these pieces from the past, we will preserve the ship’s past; every sale from our gift shop helps us maintain and restore Brunel’s beautiful ship so that future generations can enjoy it.”

The SS Great Britain Trust is also working alongside Simon Webb, who has transformed the Red Jarrah weather deck wood into beautiful jewellery and writing instruments. Simon has crafted earrings, necklaces and cufflinks from the reclaimed wood and shaped platinum and gunmetal.

Simon Webb and Ginger & Tweed’s limited edition weather deck ranges can be purchased at the SS Great Britain gift shop and are available online.