On Saturday 31 August, the SS Great Britain will unveil its new weather deck, which has been completely replaced after a monumental 39-week conservation project.
The 98-metre-long deck was installed plank by plank by a specialist team from John Perkins Construction and will protect the 180-year-old iron hull beneath it. To celebrate the occasion, the ship is hosting a reopening party in partnership with John Perkins Construction, with the first procession starting at 10:15am on Saturday 31 August.
Visitors that day will be able to attend, and the SS Great Britain Trust is also running a competition to find an SS Great Britain superfan family to officially reopen the new deck. The winning family will be the guests of honour on the deck’s unveiling day and ring the bell to mark its grand opening. They will also win an annual family pass to the ship, £50 worth of goodies and be treated to lunch in the harbourside cafe.
To enter the competition, simply subscribe to Brunel’s SS Great Britain’s e-newsletter before midnight on 22 August. Current e-newsletter subscribers will be sent an email giving them an opportunity to enter the competition.
Preserving the past and preparing a sustainable future
Throughout the weather deck project, the Trust has prioritised sustainability. The wood for the new deck was sourced from Bristol timberyard Robbins Timber, which is based in Ashton Vale. The choice of accoya wood was made with longevity in mind; the new deck should now stay in place for at least 50 years.
The charity behind the ship even teamed up with local artisans Simon Webb and Ginger & Tweed, who used the wood removed from the deck to create a unique range of craft products which are on sale in the SS Great Britain gift shop.
Andrew Edwards, Chief Executive at the SS Great Britain Trust, said, “A deck like this only gets replaced once in a generation, and we’re delighted to be able to unveil it to the public and celebrate the completion of such a monumental conservation project in Bristol with our visitors. We wanted to say a huge thank you to John Perkins Construction, Alec French Architects and MDA Consulting for their specialist skills, and to Arts Council England. This project would not have been possible without their support.
“In its day, the SS Great Britain welcomed 30,000 passengers and crew on board the weather deck, and millions of history lovers have walked in their footprints since then. By undertaking this huge project, we’re ensuring that millions more will enjoy the wonders of Brunel’s ship for years to come.”
Rupert Perkins from John Perkins Construction said: “The SS Great Britain is such an important part of Bristol’s history and culture, and we were very proud to use our specialist skills to preserve it for future generations.”
The SS Great Britain’s deck conservation work was made possible thanks to Arts Council England’s Museum Estate and Development Fund funding.
To book your tickets and find out more about the celebrations which will include free popcorn, music and costumed processions, head to ssgreatbritain.org/party