Bristol Harbour and SS Great Britain - Feb 2006
A trip to Bristol to see H. Lots of DIY at H's place, but we took some time out to visit the Bristol harbour and the SS Great Britain.
I first visited Bristol city centre and harbour in the mid-90s and I didn't like it at all. I've probably visited about ten times since and every visit is different. There have been huge changes over the last 10 years and the harbour is now a great place to explore, eat and drink.
The harbour
Occasional cars and very occasional trains mix freely on the harbour-side
The harbour railway is now part of the excellent industrial museum.
No idea what this is.
Not an excellent photo, but an intriguing terraces of three very different buildings
The harbour cranes are a landmark
Fountains at the city centre (at the end of the floating harbour)
The river (a stones throw from the Broadmead shopping area)SS Great Britain
Brunel's great iron ship was constructed in a purpose-built dry dock at the end of Bristol harbour before it's launch in 1843. It had a hugely varied career and was used a luxury liner, an immigration transporter, and as cargo vessel. It has returned to the dry dock it was built in and is under constant restoration. Visitors can see an exhibition as well as touring the vessel and the dry dock. It is well worth a visit. See http://www.ssgreatbritain.org/ for more details.
The ship is in dry dock, but a glass plate surrounds the vessel. This creates a sealed area below that can be air conditioned for the protection of the iron
It also allows a shallow layer of water that (if you squint a bit) gives the appearance that the vessel is floating.
One of the recreated bunks
The recreated emigration bunks I think - not much privacy here
The recreated surgery.
The luxurious dining room. The functional iron pillars have been hidden by decorative facade that makes them appear to be entirely fake.
The stores.
The cargo deck and hull. You can see the original iron framework in all its glory and (unfortunately) light coming through in some places. Note the air con.
'Underwater' - under the glass ceiling in the dry dock.
Naturally the dry dock has a few small leaks - but these Heath Robinson gutters collect the leaking water.
The original iron 'plug' for the dry dock. Apparently there is a new concrete wall behind this, so it isn't actually holding back the weight of water now.
