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Join our day trip to Bristol to visit Brunel’s famous ship and view his iconic Clifton suspension bridge. Brunel's SS Great Britain is one of the most important historic ships in the world. When she was launched she was the largest ship in the world. She was also the first screw-propelled, ocean-going, iron-hulled steam ship – a truly revolutionary vessel and fore-runner of all modern shipping.
Designed initially for the emerging trans-Atlantic luxury passenger trade, the ship carried 252 passengers and 130 crew. The SS Great Britain shows Brunel’s innovative approach to engineering and also marks the beginnings of international passenger travel and world communications. By combining size, power and innovative technology, Brunel created a ship that changed history. His vision for the SS Great Britain made her the great-great-grandmother for all modern ships. The SS Great Britain enjoyed a long working life from 1845 to 1933 thanks to Brunel’s engineering skills.
In 1886 she was badly damaged in a storm and her ocean-going career came to an end. Bought by the Falklands Islands Company she spent the next 47 years as a floating warehouse. In 1937, after becoming too unsafe even for this, she was towed to Sparrow Cove, a remote bay near Port William, and scuttled in its shallow waters. The SS Great Britain was finally welcomed ‘home’ on 19 July 1970 - back to the dock in which she was built, exactly 127 years to the day after her launch in 1843.
CLIFTON SUSPENSION BRIDGE
The iconic bridge, crossing the River Avon, was designed by Brunel in 1829. At the time it had the longest span of any bridge in the world but his original design was rejected on the advice of Thomas Telford (1757 - 1834). An improved version, complete with Egyptian-influenced sphinxes and hieroglyphs, was accepted. Join our day trip to Bristol to visit Brunel’s famous ship and view his iconic suspension bridge. He was also responsible for building Bristol Temple Meads Station.
The day will include coach from Taunton, guided tour of the ship, lunch, free time for tour of the docks and return to Taunton for an all-inclusive price of £57.50.
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