On 6 November three volunteers from the library went on a day trip to Bristol to a South West Maritime History Society meeting, held at the newly opened Brunel Institute. The building had only been handed over to the ss Great Britain Trust the day before, so we were privileged to be the first group to have a meeting in the conference room and also have a brief look around the new David MacGregor library, which is to be opened later this month. The library will hold maritime reference books and also the national Brunel Archive Collection, handed over to them from the Bristol University and will become a further reference point for all things in maritime history, in the south west. Here at the Bartlett Library we are hoping to have a close contact with the David MacGregor Library; especially as some of our duplicate Lloyds registers have found their way to Bristol.The day was very enjoyable, in the morning we learnt a little more about the fate of the passenger and cargo ship City of Adelaide, (one of two surviving composite clippers) between London and Plymouth to Adelaide, and although not for definite, looks like she will be once again travelling the seas to Adelaide, Australia. We also heard about a 17th century wreck in Poole Harbour and the problems of recording and preserving the wreck. And lastly, the history and stories of the destroyer HMS Venomous and the people who served on her, built after WW1, was ‘mothballed’ and then fought in and surrvived WW2.
At these meetings the SWMHS presents an award to members who have made a contribution to maritime research and on this occasion Tony was presented an award for his contribution to maritime historical research.
In the afternoon we were given free time to look around the ss Great Britain, which was very interesting. To preserve the ship she is in the Great Western Dock and her hull is encased by glass with water on top, and underneath the environment is similar to a ‘desert’. Steps lead down to a walkway around her hull, then you have an opportunity to visit the museum full of much memorabilia, finally to walk on deck the ship herself and imagine the fine cruising and conditions of life on board at the time.
Leaving Cornwall early to get to Bristol by 10.00am our drive on the A30 and up the M5 went quickly as Tony and I were regaled with many stories of the ss Great Britain whilst in the Falklands from our driver Geoff - Geoff told us all about the ss Great Britain before she left the Falklands – as he was living there with his family, in the late 1960s/early 1970s. He spent many times diving in and around the area of Sparrow Cove where she was grounded in 1846. Over the years since, many parts of her had found their way into people’s homes in the Falklands. When she departed many artefacts were returned. One of the ship’s heads, which Geoff claimed on one of his dives, then painted grey, was used as a geranium pot in Geoff’s garden. He kindly donated this piece back to the trust after his return to the UK – and there it was in the museum, still painted grey! Geoff had watched the ss Great Britain leave the Falklands in April 1970 and I, as a mere teenager with my family, watched her arrive in Bristol in July 1970.
If anyone is interested in finding out about the South West Maritime History Society please pop into the Bartlett Library.
Anne, Geoff and Tony
