Bristol businesses create SS Great Britain’s new weather deck
Brunel’s SS Great Britain has unveiled its new weather deck, after a monumental 39-week conservation project in Bristol's Harbour, where the ship is in permanent dock. The previous deck had been in place for 33 years and was visited by millions of history lovers in its time.
The new 98-metre-long deck was installed plank by plank by a specialist team from John Perkins Construction, based in the city, and will protect the fragile 180-year-old iron hull beneath it. The John Perkins Construction team worked tirelessly during some of the wettest weather ever recorded in the UK.
Throughout the project, the Trust prioritised sustainability, opting for Accoya wood which is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as a low-carbon building solution. The wood for the new deck was sourced from Bristol timberyard Robbins Timber, based in Ashton Vale. Thanks to its durability, the new deck will stay in place for at least 50 years.
To minimise waste, the charity behind the ship teamed up with local artisans Simon Webb and Ginger & Tweed. They used the wood removed from the deck to create a unique range of craft products, which are now on sale in the SS Great Britain gift shop. Money raised through these items will help to maintain the ship for future generations.
The SS Great Britain’s deck conservation work was made possible thanks to supporters of the SS Great Britain Trust, and the Arts Council England’s Museum Estate and Development Fund.
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. We would also like to thank Robbins Timber, which supplied the wood for the project.
“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.”
