Boats - Sailing - Ships
Jun. 06, 1970 - Great Britain arrives home after 8, 000 mile sea tow from the falkland islands: The SS Great Britain is home again for the first time in more than eighty years. She entered her home part of Bristol where she was launched in 1843. The Great Britain, built by Isambard Brunel was the world's first occam-going iron steam ship. She was damaged near Cape Horn in 1886 and abandoned as a hulk in the Falkland Islands. Now she has been towed over 8, 000 miles aboard a pontoon-to be restored to her former glory. There to meet the 3, 000 ton hulk were members of the Great Britain Project committee, civic leaders and Mr. Jack Hayward, the British businessman who brought Lundy Island for the National trust and gave £150, 000 to bring the ship back to England. Photo shows the S.S. Great Britain coming alongside the Avonmouth Duke Bristol on a pontoon at the end of her 8, 000 mile tow from the Palkland Islands, yesterday
